Spaced. Polished. Agile. Compiz. Efficient. Devuan.
A beautiful, familiar, systemd-free Linux desktop for beginners, power users,
and anyone who wants their computer to feel like their own.
Website · Download releases · Issues · Design · Themes · Support
Spaced Linux is a polished desktop distribution built on Devuan Ceres, using sysvinit, MATE, and Compiz. It welcomes first-time Linux users without hiding the system from experienced users who want to inspect, customize, automate, and rebuild it.
The desktop begins with a familiar layout: a clear application menu, conventional windows, readable controls, and tools placed where people expect them. Beneath that approachable surface is a lean Devuan base, a deeply configurable Compiz desktop, Flatpak and Flathub integration, a graphical Calamares installer, and a reproducible live-build workflow.
Compiz is not an optional novelty. It is the window manager and compositor, providing smooth animation, flexible workspace behavior, window rules, accessibility features, and the visual personality that makes Spaced Linux feel alive.
These are real Spaced Linux desktop sessions—not wallpaper mockups. Click any image to view it at full size.
 Compiz-first desktop — Workspaces, accessibility, motion, and organization are part of the core experience. |
 Friendly first run — Start installing software or open the browser from one clear welcome screen. |
 Modern applications — Flatpak and Flathub provide current software without dependency chaos. |
 Coordinated themes — GTK, icons, wallpaper, panels, and Compiz presentation move together. |
 A familiar favorite — The macOS-inspired theme is one of the many coordinated Spaced Linux desktop looks. |
 Private AI — Voice2Text transcribes speech locally on-device, part of the flatpak-driven AI workflow. |
 Windows 11 dark — A modern dark look inspired by Windows 11, coordinated across GTK, icons, and panels. |
 Windows XP — A nostalgic Windows XP-style desktop that stays fast and familiar. |
| Feature | Benefit |
|---|---|
| Familiar desktop | A classic desktop workflow avoids the learning curve of unfamiliar shells. |
| Graphical installation | Calamares provides a clear installation path for BIOS and UEFI systems. |
| Useful defaults | Networking, audio controls, archives, editing, document viewing, and system utilities are ready immediately. |
| Modern applications | Flatpak and Flathub provide current desktop apps without destabilizing the base system. |
| Coordinated themes | One choice coordinates GTK, icons, folder colors, wallpaper, panel behavior, and the optional dock. |
| Feature | Benefit |
|---|---|
| Systemd-free architecture | Devuan Ceres and sysvinit keep service management conventional, understandable, and scriptable. |
| APT plus Flatpak | Use native packages for the operating system and sandboxed apps for fast-moving desktop software. |
| Deep Compiz configuration | Tune effects, window rules, workspaces, keybindings, accessibility, and compositor behavior. |
| Reproducible builds | The repository contains the live-build configuration, package selection, overlays, scripts, and QEMU targets used to make the ISO. |
| Plain-text configuration | Themes, package groups, desktop defaults, and automation remain inspectable and version controlled. |
| A practical customization base | Fork it, rebuild it, replace the artwork, alter package groups, or turn it into another focused distribution. |
Spaced Linux combines a modern system with visual ideas from the best desktop eras. Its theme collection can evoke classic Windows, macOS, Android, Linux Mint, GeoWorks, or the distinctive monochrome Spaced identity without becoming a fragile pile of unrelated tweaks.
- Base: Devuan Ceres (unstable), rolling release
- Init: sysvinit
- Desktop: MATE
- Primary window manager: Compiz
- File manager: Caja
- Application menu: Brisk Menu
- Display manager: LightDM GTK Greeter
- Installer: Calamares
- Icons: Spaced overlays based on Papirus
- Application delivery: APT plus Flatpak/Flathub
- Target architecture: amd64
Download the ISO and its matching checksum from the Spaced Linux releases page.
Verify the download on Linux:
sha256sum -c spaced-linux-8.26.5-amd64.iso.sha256Test release images in a virtual machine or on non-critical hardware before adopting them for daily use.
A Devuan- or Debian-based build host is recommended.
git clone https://github.com/crhy/spaced.git
cd spaced
make deps
make releaseThe completed ISO is written beneath:
build/iso/
make iso-testFor unattended boot checks, including VirtualBox BIOS and EFI, run:
make iso-smokeThe smoke tests pass only after SSH and the complete MATE desktop (session,
panel, Caja, and Compiz) are running. KVM and VirtualBox screenshots are saved
beneath build/test-artifacts/; VirtualBox also rejects blank captures.
make check
make help
make deps
make iso-build
make iso-test
make iso-smoke
make vm-start
make release
make clean
make cache-cleanQEMU defaults to a 1440×900 GTK window and forwards guest SSH to port 2222.
Spaced Linux is an independent project. Donations help cover hosting, testing, hardware, development time, and future releases.
Bitcoin bc1q3kgsasmwyc2knfa8snzqstr7m983sxwleql7l2
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Venmo @green-jacket
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Thank you for helping keep an independent, polished, systemd-free desktop available to everyone.
The current development line is 8.26.5. Spaced Linux is an independent community project under active development.
Bug reports, documentation improvements, Compiz refinements, theme work, package suggestions, hardware testing, accessibility improvements, and build fixes are welcome.
Open an issue or submit a pull request describing what changed and how it was tested.
The theme documentation is split by purpose:
- MATE theme architecture — component ownership, runtime switching, source-to-installed workflow, testing, and troubleshooting.
- Theme and interface colors — GTK2/GTK3 palettes, controls, panels, decorations, icons, wallpapers, terminal, Compiz, Flatpak, and toolkit limits.
- MATE panel layout — applets, layouts, orientation, panel backgrounds, and Cairo Dock.
- Visual design — current design principles for the Spaced identity and OS-inspired themes.
- Resolution record — current resolutions for recurring historical problems.
Run make check before committing theme or documentation changes.
Spaced Linux includes a verified, transactional NVIDIA driver installer with automatic rollback, pre-reboot verification, and post-reboot desktop checks. For installation steps, SSH recovery procedures, DKMS troubleshooting, Secure Boot limitations, and the full error-code reference, see:
The live boot chain, its difference from a stock Devuan live system, historical boot failures, and how to diagnose a live USB that will not boot are documented in:
Spaced Linux builds on the work of the Devuan, Debian, MATE, Compiz, Calamares, Flatpak, Papirus, and broader free-software communities.
Project-specific build configuration and code are released under the MIT License. Upstream packages, artwork, themes, fonts, and components retain their respective licenses.