SparkyOS: Lightweight general-purpose Arch, on a pendrive
Interesting new project from the minds behind SparkyLinux
SparkyOS is a new Linux distribution created by the team behind SparkyLinux. Unlike most live Linux media, SparkyOS is a full local installation that runs entirely from a USB pendrive. It uses Arch as its base and comes with the Xfce desktop and a variety of applications. The primary goal of SparkyOS is to provide a lightweight and portable Linux distribution that can be booted and used on any x86-64 UEFI computer without installing it on the hard disk.
This approach differs from its predecessor, SparkyLinux, which is a Debian-based distribution. While SparkyLinux has been available in various editions, including a 32-bit version, SparkyOS is the first USB-based release. It is a complete 10 GB image compressed to 3.2 GB, which can be downloaded and used on a 64 GB USB drive with both USB-A and USB-C connectors.
To improve performance and longevity, SparkyOS disables unnecessary functions such as file access time logging (noatime) and swap space. The root volume is mounted with the noatime parameter, reducing the number of writes performed by the operating system. Additionally, there is no swap configured, as ZRAM is not used in this setup.
SparkyOS can be used on various UEFI systems, including older machines like the 15-year-old Thinkpad W520. It runs flawlessly on a range of UEFI-equipped computers, including the newest Dell XPS13 with USB-C ports. Users are advised to use a fast and large USB drive to accommodate the compressed image and ensure optimal performance.
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