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Spaced Linux is an independently developed desktop distribution built on Devuan Ceres, with sysvinit, MATE and Compiz as its core. It offers a graphical installer and combines APT packages with Flatpak apps. Its rolling, unstable base makes it a different choice from a fixed-release desktop system; check the current release details before installing.
What is Spaced Linux?
Spaced Linux is a desktop distribution built on Devuan Ceres. It is a separate project, not Devuan’s own default desktop edition. The project presents it as a familiar graphical desktop for newcomers as well as a system experienced users can inspect, customize, automate and rebuild. Its description, “Linux that feels familiar. Freedom that goes deeper,” is project positioning rather than an independent performance or usability assessment. Spaced Linux project site
Devuan is a Debian fork that does not use systemd. Devuan itself offers SysVinit, OpenRC and Runit; Spaced Linux selects sysvinit. Devuan’s overview of the operating system
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What desktop and system components does it use?
The project’s documented stack combines a traditional desktop with tools for managing applications and installation:
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- Init system: sysvinit, which starts and manages system services.
- Desktop: MATE, with Compiz as the primary window manager.
- File management and menus: Caja and Brisk Menu.
- Login screen: LightDM GTK Greeter.
- Installation: Calamares graphical installer.
- First-run setup: a Welcome application.
- Applications: APT for native system packages, alongside Flatpak, Flathub and a signed project catalog called
spaced-github.
The combination gives users more than one way to install software. APT handles packages integrated with the underlying system, while Flatpak provides a separate application delivery route. The project documents both, but that alone does not establish that every application a user may want is available in its catalog.
What does the rolling Devuan Ceres base mean?
Spaced Linux is based on Devuan Ceres, which the project identifies as unstable and rolling. A rolling distribution receives ongoing package changes rather than moving only between fixed, numbered stable releases. This can provide newer software over time, but it also means the system and its updates continue to change. Readers who prioritize a fixed-release base should weigh that distinction before choosing it.
Release information needs particular care: the project’s homepage and repository or release pages have shown inconsistent version signals. Do not assume an older release number is the newest. Use the project’s currently linked release page and check its date, ISO filename, checksum and notes before downloading. Spaced Linux releases
How do you install and verify it?
The project provides a downloadable ISO, uses Calamares for graphical installation, and documents a SHA-256 checksum file for releases. Its repository recommends verifying the downloaded ISO with the checksum file supplied for that specific release.
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- Open the project’s download or releases page and select the current ISO. Confirm the release date and filename rather than relying on a version number mentioned elsewhere on the site.
- Download the checksum file that accompanies that exact release. Keep it alongside the ISO.
- In a terminal, go to the directory containing both files and run
sha256sum -c CHECKSUM-FILENAME, replacingCHECKSUM-FILENAMEwith the actual checksum filename provided for that release. - Proceed only if the check reports that the ISO is OK. A failed check means the file does not match the published checksum; download the ISO and checksum again before using it.
- Boot the ISO as a live session or in a virtual machine first if you want to assess the desktop and installation flow. If installing from USB, follow the release’s installation instructions and remove the USB before restarting when prompted.
Consult the release notes for the exact installation steps and any release-specific cautions. Spaced Linux repository and documentation
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What hardware support and testing are documented?
No authoritative minimum CPU, memory, storage, graphics or Wi-Fi specification is established in the reviewed project pages. Avoid treating a generic hardware list as a published requirement. Testing the live image or a virtual machine can reveal basic issues, but virtual-machine success does not confirm compatibility with a particular physical graphics adapter, wireless device, display or suspend setup.
The 9.26.4 release notes describe BIOS and EFI virtual-machine checks, package identity checks and repository integrity checks. These are the project’s own published validation claims, not independent test results or proof that every physical computer has been tested. Check the current release notes for the relevant version and any hardware-specific information. Spaced Linux release notes
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Who might choose Spaced Linux?
- Consider it if you want a MATE desktop, prefer a systemd-free base, and are comfortable using a rolling distribution based on Devuan Ceres.
- Look more closely before installing if you depend on specific hardware, need a fixed-release system, or require assurance about compatibility beyond the project’s published virtual-machine checks.
- Compare it with Devuan carefully: Devuan offers several init choices, while Spaced Linux documents a particular desktop and sysvinit configuration. They are related, but not interchangeable product editions.
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