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# SparkyLinux 2024.01 Update Debuts With PipeWire and More
- URL: https://itsfoss.com/news/sparky-linux-2024-01-release/
- Published: 2024-01-19T11:04:46.000Z
- Updated: 2024-01-19T11:06:37.000Z
- Description: SparkyLinux gets rid of PulseAudio, and adds newer browsers with the desktop installer.
- Author: Sourav Rudra
- Tags: Distribution Releases, News, #Import 2025-11-08 21:15

SparkyLinux is a very [interesting distribution based on Debian](https://itsfoss.com/debian-based-distros/) that is very fast and lightweight in nature. It provides users with a customizable experience out of the box.

With a recent announcement, the developers have released **the first update of 2024 for their rolling releases of SparkyLinux** that aims to offer various improvements.

Let's dive in and see what's on offer.

## 🆕 SparkyLinux 2024.01: What's New?

![a screenshot of sparkylinux 2024.01 with the about system pages open](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/2024/01/SparkyLinux_2024.01.png)

Based on the latest packages from the Debian and Sparky testing repos (January 17, 2024), **SparkyLinux 2024.01 uses the Linux kernel 6.6.11 as a powerful base** to provide better hardware support, networking improvements, and more.

Then there are the **installer updates;** where Calamares 3.3.1 is now used for the conventional variants of SparkyLinux. Similarly, the Sparky CLI installer sees a few tweaks such as a progress output being shown when files are being copied, and the removal of installation on XFS file system.

[![Follow It's FOSS on Google News](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/2023/04/Follow-us-on-Google-News.png)](https://news.google.com/publications/CAAqBwgKMInpoAswofO4Aw?ref=itsfoss.com)

The desktop installer now includes more browser options that include Librewolf, iron, Midori, Opera (stable), and a couple of others.

On the audio/video side of things, the **PipeWire audio server replaces PulseAudio**, thanks to [PipeWire 1.0.1](https://gitlab.freedesktop.org/pipewire/pipewire/-/releases/1.0.1?ref=itsfoss.com) being implemented.

The **desktop environments offered with SparkyLinux** now feature many recent releases such as **LXQt 1.4.0**, **MATE 26.0**, [Xfce 4.18](https://itsfoss.com/xfce-4-18-release/), and **KDE Plasma 5.27.10.**

And to wrap it up, the **application suite also sees an upgrade**, with the following highlights:

- **VLC 3.0.20**
- **Openbox 3.6.1-11**
- **Thunderbird 115.6.0**
- **LibreOffice 7.6.4\~rc1**
- **Firefox 115.6.0esr (121.0.1 in Sparky repos)**

For getting more insights into this release, you may go through the official [release notes](https://sparkylinux.org/sparky-2024-01/?ref=itsfoss.com).

**Suggested Read** 📖

[13 Best Debian Based Linux Distros With Unique TouchDebian is the mother of so many Linux distributions. It is not easy to select the best among them. Here, I share some of the interesting Debian-based distros.![](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/size/w256h256/2022/12/android-chrome-192x192.png)It's FOSSSagar Sharma![](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/wordpress/2022/07/best-distros-based-on-debian.png)](https://itsfoss.com/debian-based-distros/)

## 📥 Download SparkyLinux 2024.01

You can get this release of SparkyLinux from the [official website](https://sparkylinux.org/download/rolling/?ref=itsfoss.com) (Rolling) where you will find the following variants; **LXQt**, **MATE**, **Xfce**, **KDE Plasma**, **MinimalGUI** and **MinimalCLI**.

[SparkyLinux (Rolling)](https://sparkylinux.org/download/rolling/?ref=itsfoss.com)

### ⚙️ Upgrade from Older Release

Fire up the terminal app on your SparkyLinux system and run the following command:

```
 sudo apt-get update
 sudo apt-get dist-upgrade
```

Running this will upgrade all the packages, including the new ones as required by the upgrade process.

You can also head over to the [official wiki](https://wiki.sparkylinux.org/doku.php/upgrade?ref=itsfoss.com) if you run into any troubles or for more information.

*💬 Will you be trying out this release? Please let us know below!*