Zenwalk GNU/Linux[2] is a desktop-focusedLinux distribution founded by Jean-Philippe Guillemin. It is based onSlackware with very few modifications at system level making it 100% compatible with Slackware.[3] It aims to be a modern, multi-purpose Linux distribution by focusing on internet applications, multimedia and programming tools.[4] It comes with many specialized tools and is designed for beginners and advanced users alike, as it offers system configuration via both graphical tools and the command line.[a]
Zenwalk was originally calledMinislack up to version 1.1. It was renamed with version 1.2, released on 12 August 2005. Originally usingKDE as its desktop environment, it moved toXfce with version 0.3, althoughGNOME and KDE packages have always been available separately.
The Zenwalk Project aims to create alightweight Linux distribution, through using only one application per task on the releaseISO image; optimization for a specificinstruction set architecture, to increase execution speed; and introducing a comprehensive package management system with dependency resolution.[18]
Zenwalk uses the netpkgpackage management system. Developed in-house, it provides the main functionality of theapt-get variety of package managers. It uses Slackware's .tgz package format, but adds dependency resolution capabilities. It uses meta files to provide dependency information, as well as package description during the install process. This convenience is available only to the official Zenwalk mirrors listed in the netpkg configuration file,netpkg.conf. In addition to the originalnetpkg command line interface,xnetpkg provides a GUI frontend with similar capabilities.[citation needed]
Zenwalk is also compatible with Slackware package management tools such asslapt-get and its frontends, and have similar functionality as that of netpkg.[citation needed]
As of Zenwalk 4.6, package compatibility with Slackware is still maintained. Slackware packages may be used in place of Zenwalk packages where necessary.[citation needed]
Starting with version 8.0, Zenwalk Linux is built and optimized primarily for thex86_64 architecture; 32-biti486 architecture is no longer supported.[citation needed]
At one time there were five main versions of Zenwalk :
Zenwalk Standard, a distribution aimed at mainstream desktop and development use. Designed to be a stand-alone operating system, it installs to the hard drive by way of anncurses-based installer. It includes all of the officially released software packages that are deemed most useful by the Zenwalk community. The default install also includes development packages likegcc, and some proprietary media packages (such as Adobe Flash Player) and drivers in order to provide a full featured default install. The default desktop environment isXfce.[citation needed]
Zenwalk Core (discontinued), a Zenwalk system built for user customization. Released with no X Window System binaries, its aim was to allow a skilled user to build a system fit for their needs. The project's lead developer was Emmanuel Bailleul.[citation needed]
ZenLive (discontinued), a Zenwalk system built on aLive CD design. ZenLive followed the progress made by the full Zenwalk system closely, thus mirroring the version number, and attempted to stay true to the original distribution's goals. In addition, it included all of the necessary libraries and applications to develop and compile software, a particularly rare feature in Live CD distributions. The original ZenLive team left the project after version 6.0 was released but ZenwalkLive project was revived by an enthusiastic user and developed as a one-man-project. With version 6.4 the live-framework changed from deprecated linux-live-scripts to slackware-live-scripts.[citation needed]
Zenwalk Gnome (discontinued), withGNOME as the default desktop environment.[citation needed]
Zenwalk Openbox (discontinued), supplied withOpenbox as stand-alone window manager. It was a very lightweight version of the operating system and did not useLXDE in its choice of software. It still uses Thunar File Manager over PCManFM which is standard on LXDE-based systems such as Lubuntu.[citation needed]
ALive USB of Zenwalk Linux for versions up to 5.2 can be created manually or withUNetbootin.[45] Current versions of Zenwalk can also booted from a USB usingVentoy, but only for installation, not a live session.[46]
/ 16 January 2025; 10 months ago (16 January 2025)
