[3] It aims to be a modern, multi-purpose Linux distribution by focusing on internet applications, multimedia and programming tools.

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.

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.

[45] Current versions of Zenwalk can also booted from a USB using Ventoy, but only for installation, not a live session.