Voyager Linux 13.1 Debian – A French Take on Classic Debian

Voyager 13.1 Debian wraps robust stability in unexpected elegance — here we explore how a little French savoir-faire takes Linux somewhere new.

The FOSS Force Distro of the Week — Voyager 13.1 Debian

After last week’s dance with an outstanding distro, it would be hard for any other distro to match the high standard that Linux Mint set for the rest of the field.

However, thanks to a request from a reader, it was suggested that we give the French distro Voyager Linux a shot — and mon dieu! What a pleasant surprise.

As timing would have it, Voyager had released its Voyager 13.1 Debian version earlier this month. Voyager uniquely bills itself on its website as “a human adventure at the heart of digital technology,” all while offering users two different versions of its distro: one based on Ubuntu and the other on Debian. For purposes of this article, we are testing the latest Debian version.

The system requirements for Voyager 13.1 Debian are a 2 GHz dual-core processor or higher, 4 GB RAM, 25 GB storage, and a USB port or DVD drive for installation media. Also, “an internet connection is helpful,” according to the Voyager Linux web page.

Voyager 13.1 is based on Debian 13.0 “Trixie” — just released last month — and features the GNOME 48 desktop and the Linux 6.12 LTS kernel, which means the distro will be supported for five years, “thanks to the Debian Security and LTS teams,” according to Voyager’s website.

Installing Voyager

At 4.4 GB, Voyager 13.1 Debian’s ISO is unusually large, so the download took a little longer than usual. When starting the “live” version from the download, the Debian trappings are definitely evident, with “Debian 13” clearly marked at the screen’s bottom left. The installation itself — using the Calamares installer — went smoothly, and in several minutes we were up and running.

The reason that the ISO is so large is the fact that, combined with the GNOME desktop environment and the GNOME family of software that’s included, Voyager includes a large number of app that anticipate and encompass everything a user might need in a distro.

Core applications in Voyager include GNOME Files (formerly known as Nautilus), Gufw Firewall, Synaptic package manager, KeepassXC, Tilda Terminal, Wine, Steam support, Shotcut video editor, and more. Voyager also includes such standards as Firefox browser and Thunderbird e-mail client, as well as the LibreOffice suite. The list goes further, and includes the GIMP graphics editor, VLC media player, and the Rhythmbox audio player. There are even parental controls, for those who want to put the clamps, digitally speaking, on what the kids can see.

There are also some surprising inclusions, notably the file sharing app Transmission — a useful tool that’s often omitted from many distros’ default install – and BleachBit, a popular file cleaning app. Also installed by default are the GDebi Package Installer and the Synaptic Package Manager, for those with more experience in the Linux realm.

To its credit, Voyager includes a program called Voyager Box, which allows the user to modify various parts of the distro — like its look and feel, for instance. One option that appealed to me concerned modifying the Conky system monitoring app, which typically sits on the screen’s lower left. With Voyager Box I could modify Conky with a seemingly endless combination of settings.

Three more noteworthy apps included in Voyager: Shortwave, FreeTube, and Foliate:

• Shortwave, a digital radio receiver, allows the user to choose from over 50,000 stations broadcasting over the Internet, and file them away in collections for future listening.
• FreeTube allows users to use YouTube without their viewing habits being tracked.
• Foliate is an e-book reader that supports typical e-book formats, including PDF.

Using Voyager Linux

Admitting – and sheepishly so – that GNOME is not my particular cup of desktop environment tea, the learning curve to get the hang of it was not as steep as I feared. In fact, there’s a lot to credit in the ease-of-use department, which includes a row of app icons along the bottom augmented by a top-row panel of smaller icons to match the users’ needs. At the top — from left to right — there are icons for e-mail, clipboard, a language, WiFi/audio/battery (which provides a wide range of settings), and date/time.

Operating Gnome on Voyager surprisingly grew on me. The programs are easily accessible, and the day-to-day tasks I threw at the distro were handled easily and efficiently. Multitasking — using several programs at a time — was handled with a typical French je ne sais quoi style. In particular, using Shortwave bears special mention, as the multiple choices of radio stations was a treat while writing this article.

Final Thoughts

On its website, translated from the French, Voyager claims that “Voyager 13 is not really made for beginners wanting to launch Debian and not knowing much about Linux.” To that I would reply, “Au contraire, mon frère.” The combination of Debian plus GNOME make it an ideal candidate for new users, as well as more than adequate for the more experienced user.

Two issues may need resolving going forward. One is an update process which requires a reboot each time an update is made; arguably a good idea, but with the amount of updates available on this distro it becomes tiresome. The second — and far more minor — issue is the constant exposure to the fact that Voyager is based on Debian. As already mentioned, we see that fact in the boot screen, as well as in the login screen when you log back in after the screensaver kicks in. Assert your independence, Voyager!

Otherwise, Voyager 13.1 Debian is a solid distro which provides much for both beginners and more experienced users alike. If you’re so inclined, give it a try.

Do you have a distro you think would make a great feature for FOSS Force’s Distro of the Week? Don’t be shy—let us know! Offer your suggestions in the comments below (or use the “contact us” link under our masthead) and we’ll make an effort to make it so… No suggestion is too mainstream or too niche—let us know what you’d like to see!

And suddenly we’re in the mood to listen to a little music from The Boss…