Zenwalk
DeveloperJean-Philippe Guillemin
FamilyUnix-like (Linux kernel)
Source modelOpen source
Working stateCurrent
UiXfce
Updatemodelnetpkg (xnetpkg)
Package managernetpkg
LicenseVarious
Websitewww.zenwalk.org

Zenwalk GNU/Linux[1] is a desktop-focused Linux distribution founded by Jean-Philippe Guillemin. It is based on Slackware with very few modifications at system level making it 100% compatible with Slackware.[2] It aims to be a modern, multi-purpose Linux distribution by focusing on internet applications, multimedia and programming tools.[3] 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]

History

Zenwalk was originally called Minislack up to version 1.1. It was renamed with version 1.2, released on 12 August 2005. Originally using KDE as its desktop environment, it moved to Xfce with version 0.3, although GNOME and KDE packages have always been available separately.

Aims

The Zenwalk Project aims to create a lightweight Linux distribution, through using only one application per task on the release ISO image; optimization for a specific instruction set architecture, to increase execution speed; and introducing a comprehensive package management system with dependency resolution.[4]

Package management

Zenwalk uses the netpkg package management system. Developed in-house, it provides the main functionality of the apt-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 original netpkg command line interface, xnetpkg provides a GUI frontend with similar capabilities.[citation needed]

Zenwalk is also compatible with Slackware package management tools such as slapt-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]

Zenwalk release history[5]
versiondate
Minislack 0.1May 21, 2004
Minislack 0.2August 8, 2004
Minislack 0.3February 17, 2005
Minislack 0.4March 26, 2005
Minislack 1.0April 24, 2005
Minislack 1.0.1May 3, 2005
Minislack 1.1June 10, 2005
Zenwalk 1.2August 12, 2005
Zenwalk 1.3October 15, 2005
Zenwalk 2.0 CoreNovember 27, 2005
Zenwalk 2.0.1December 4, 2005
Zenwalk 2.1 (Core)January 18, 2006
Zenwalk 2.2[6]February 16, 2006
Zenwalk 2.4[7]April 4, 2006
Zenwalk 2.6[8]May 23, 2006
Zenwalk 2.8[9]July 21, 2006
Zenwalk 3.0[10]September 8, 2006
Zenwalk 4.0[11]November 20, 2006
Zenwalk 4.2[12]January 6, 2007
Zenwalk 4.4[13]February 22, 2007
Zenwalk 4.4.1[14]February 24, 2007
Zenwalk 4.6[15]June 1, 2007
Zenwalk 4.6.1[16]June 6, 2007
Zenwalk 4.8[17]October 6, 2007
Zenwalk 5.0[18]January 18, 2008
Zenwalk 5.2[19]June 7, 2008
Zenwalk 6.0[20]March 7, 2009
Zenwalk 6.2[21]September 6, 2009
Zenwalk 6.4[22]May 27, 2010
Zenwalk 7.0[23]Mar 25, 2011
Zenwalk 7.2[24]Oct 11, 2012
Zenwalk 7.4[25]April 2014
Zenwalk 8.0[26]July 2016
Zenwalk 15.0[27]4 February 2022

Supported architectures

Starting with version 8.0, Zenwalk Linux is built and optimized primarily for the x86 64 architecture; 32-bit i486 architecture is no longer supported.[citation needed]

Project versions

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 an ncurses-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 like gcc, 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 is Xfce.[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 a Live 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), with GNOME as the default desktop environment.[citation needed]
  • Zenwalk Openbox (discontinued), supplied with Openbox as stand-alone window manager. It was a very lightweight version of the operating system and did not use LXDE 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]

Derivatives

There are currently three known Zenwalk-based distributions:

  • Arudius, a now-discontinued live CD distribution for information assurance with tools for penetration testing and vulnerability analysis[28]
  • SLAMPP, intended to be used as a home server[29]
  • Zencafe, an Indonesian distribution designed for internet cafes[30]

Live USB

A Live USB of Zenwalk Linux for versions up to 5.2 can be created manually or with UNetbootin.[31] Current versions of Zenwalk can also booted from a USB using Ventoy, but only for installation, not a live session.[32]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ [33][34][35][36][37][38][39][40][41][42][43][44][45]

References

  1. ^ Guillemin, Jean-Philippe (4 February 2022). "Zenwalk GNU Linux". zenwalk.org. Archived 28 March 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 28 March 2022.
  2. ^ JP Guillemin (2016-02-10). "Now Zenwalk 8.0 BETA 2"
  3. ^ Claus Futtrup (2005-09-19). "An introduction to Zenwalk 1.2"
  4. ^ Mayank Sharma (2008-02-14). "Tiny Zenwalk 5.0 packs a big punch"
  5. ^ Zenwalk Releases Announcements on Distrowatch Archived September 28, 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  6. ^ Zenwalk 2.2 Release Announcement Archived June 24, 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  7. ^ Zenwalk 2.4 Release Announcement Archived October 13, 2006 at the Wayback Machine
  8. ^ Zenwalk 2.6 Release Announcement Archived June 29, 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  9. ^ Zenwalk 2.8 Release Announcement Archived October 13, 2006 at the Wayback Machine
  10. ^ Zenwalk 3.0 Release Announcement Archived February 23, 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  11. ^ Zenwalk 4.0 Release Announcement Archived February 19, 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  12. ^ Zenwalk 4.2 Release Announcement Archived February 19, 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  13. ^ Zenwalk 4.4 Release Announcement Archived March 1, 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  14. ^ Zenwalk 4.4.1 Release Announcement Archived August 4, 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  15. ^ Zenwalk 4.6 Release Announcement Archived June 4, 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  16. ^ Zenwalk 4.6.1 Release Announcement Archived July 16, 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  17. ^ Zenwalk 4.8 Release Announcement Archived October 11, 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  18. ^ Zenwalk 5.0 Release Announcement Archived January 20, 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  19. ^ Zenwalk 5.2 Release Announcement Archived June 8, 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  20. ^ Zenwalk 6.0 Release Announcement Archived March 11, 2009 at the Wayback Machine
  21. ^ Zenwalk 6.2 Release Announcement Archived December 3, 2009 at the Wayback Machine
  22. ^ Zenwalk 6.4 is ready ! Archived October 23, 2013 at the Wayback Machine
  23. ^ Zenwalk 7.0 is available ! Archived April 22, 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  24. ^ Zenwalk 7.2 has been launched Archived October 17, 2012 at the Wayback Machine
  25. ^ "Zenwalk Forum"
  26. ^ "Zenwalk Forum"
  27. ^ "Zenwalk 15.0 "Skywalker" milestone is ready"
  28. ^ "Arudius – TDI". Archived from the original on 20 March 2018. Retrieved 12 June 2013.
  29. ^ "SLAMPP Live CD/DVD » Home"
  30. ^ "Zencafe Linux | Straight Forwards to the Future". Archived from the original on May 28, 2014. Retrieved May 26, 2014.
  31. ^ UNetbootin - Homepage and Downloads
  32. ^ Sun, Hailong (28 March 2022). "Tested OS Series". ventoy.net. Archived 28 March 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 28 March 2022.
  33. ^ MiniSlack is no mini Slack | Tux Machines
  34. ^ MiniSlack: A noteworthy Linux distribution, OSNews
  35. ^ Let's Take a Zenwalk | Tux Machines
  36. ^ Review: Zenwalk Linux 2.0.1, OSNews
  37. ^ Zen Yourself Free: a Windows Defector Discovers ZenWalk, OSNews
  38. ^ DistroWatch Weekly, Issue 239, 11 February 2008
  39. ^ "Zenwalk 6 Review | LinuxBSDos.com". Archived from the original on 20 June 2018. Retrieved 20 June 2018.
  40. ^ "Zenwalk 6.2 Review | LinuxBSDos.com". Archived from the original on 20 June 2018. Retrieved 20 June 2018.
  41. ^ Spotlight on Linux: Zenwalk Linux 6.4 "Live" | Linux Journal
  42. ^ Zenwalk 7 review | LinuxBSDos.com
  43. ^ DistroWatch Weekly, Issue 427, 17 October 2011
  44. ^ DistroWatch Weekly, Issue 482, 12 November 2012
  45. ^ DistroWatch Weekly, Issue 674, 15 August 2016