The Slackware-based Zenwalk is back: on 5 September 2026 the project published its “Current Milestone 2026” – the first major update in more than four years. With Linux kernel 7.1.7, the Xfce 4.20 desktop and, for the first time, fully integrated Flatpak support, the veteran distribution is worth a second look.
Zenwalk was long prized as lean and desktop-friendly, but had gone conspicuously quiet: its last major release, Zenwalk 15.0, arrived in February 2022 on the heels of Slackware 15.0. The new milestone is rebuilt entirely against the current Slackware Current packages and layers Zenwalk’s own components on top.
Built for responsiveness
The foundation is Linux 7.1.7, patched with the BORE (Burst-Oriented Response Enhancer) scheduler. It favours short, interactive CPU bursts and aims to keep the desktop fluid even under heavier load. The interface itself uses Xfce 4.20 with a dock-centred layout; a Window Maker-inspired variant is available as an alternative.
- Fully integrated Flatpak: configured out of the box, Flathub enabled as an app source
- Freshly rewritten graphical system tools for network, users, services, storage and software
- Improved media support
- A complete rebuild against the latest Slackware Current packages
The result gives users access to a large ecosystem of up-to-date desktop apps while the underlying system still rests on classic Slackware packages. As a rolling release, Zenwalk is meant to evolve through regular updates rather than requiring a fresh install for every new version.
Sources: Zenwalk · Phoronix · Linuxiac
