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Slackware 9 Unleashed to World

Posted by CowboyNeal on from the bob-dobbs-and-patrick-v dept.

kiltedtaco writes "Slackware Linux 9.0 is out! Based on gcc 3.2, and equipped with kernel 2.4.20 (ptrace-patched), XFree86 4.3, GNOME 2.2 and KDE 3.1. You can read the full announcement, or just go grab a copy for yourself at either the Slackware Store or these lovely mirrors." I know a lot of people who first cut their teeth on Slack when trying Linux. It's cool to see that it's still around.

19 of 349 comments (clear)

  1. My first linux by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Interesting

    WHOOHOO This is the first linux install I'm gonna try. I'm a meganewbie, so wish me luck :)

    - KJ

    1. Re:My first linux by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Interesting

      fellow in the next room uses it, loves the thing.

      Fellow in the next room here,

      Slackware is nice and simple. I first started with Redhat 7.3 but I didn't get on with the Redhat way of doing things. Much generic documentation found online didn't apply because Redhat had rearranged the backend so that it would work with their GUIs.

      Slackware pretty much installs software where it was intended and encourages you to configure manually or use standard configuration tools such as XF86Config that you can read up on in any HOWTO. Also the packaging system is unobtrusive allowing you to install from source or say Loki or Mozilla installer without messing up packaging management (problems I found with Debian and Gentoo).

      Chances are that from a standard install you won't get sound, X11 your CD-Writer or other `peripherals' running but then, just remember that the HOWTO's and other goodies are stored in the /usr/doc directory and of course there's www.google.com. You learn a lot about your computer in just getting things to work.

      I cut my teeth on Slack, but then I had a whole summer to mess around before I really needed my computer. If you don't mind the command line (you may be surprised what can be done at a terminal,) and have a bit of time on your hands then try Slack. Oh, and also get a copy of `The Book' from slackware.com, it's a nice conscise but very helpful manual, especially for first install.

      Regards

      Nemes

  2. man... by intermodal · · Score: 5, Interesting

    its amazing the popularity slackware maintains despite its simplicity. Just goes to show how desireable simplicity can be for some.

    --
    In SOVIET RUSSIA... erm...NSA AMERICA, the Internet logs onto YOU!
  3. What's so special about Slackware? by exp(pi*sqrt(163)) · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Why should I use it in preference to RH or Debian or any of the countless other distros? Does it have some special features? Is it easy to install? Does it have some packages you can't find elsewhere? Have they made some amazing customizations to the kernel?

    --
    Doesn't it make you feel good to know that our freedoms are protected by politicans, lawyers and journalists.
    1. Re:What's so special about Slackware? by christafarian · · Score: 2, Interesting

      I run redhat when I do not want to mess with things like drivers or configuration. Slackware is simple, and there are not any darn rpms that get in your way.

      RPMS can be your best friend or you worst enemy depending on what you are doing.

      I have a fetish for compiling everything from source, so a minimal slackware is a step above LFS.

    2. Re:What's so special about Slackware? by localghost · · Score: 2, Interesting

      It's simple. It is easy to install, though it's not as pretty as Redhat or Mandrake. It's got a very simple package management system, and it's got a much simpler directory structure. I started on Slackware and switched to Debian a few months ago. I'd say that what I miss most about Slackware is how easy it is to make it work the way you want (it's really easy to mix source and binary packages) and the layout of the startup scripts. I don't like this giant mess of symbolic links that most distros use. But it was worth the switch to get apt-get. (if they would only update the packages)

    3. Re:What's so special about Slackware? by LordP · · Score: 2, Interesting

      It's very easy to install - the installer is to a lot of people the easiest to use (myself included).

      I think most of the people who use or want to use Slackware is for the challenge - for the most part you generally have to edit config files yourself to administer it, or upgrade stuff. Compiling new packages yourself is done more often than using the package management system - it isn't anything like apt-get or rpm (though rpm is available and I've noticed quite a few package management tools around).

      For me, it's what I've used since around 96/97 (and the red Infomagic distribution), and I'm comfortable with it :)

      --
      Nothing is so smiple that it can't be screwed up.
    4. Re:What's so special about Slackware? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Interesting

      That alias is one of, it not the most anoying thing about any RedHat based distro. I got used to it, and use rm -f before I learnt about .bashrc Damn you RedHat, for teaching me bad habits!

  4. Of *course* Slackware is still around! by Silroquen · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I love Slackware! It's simple and it gives me complete control--just what I want in a Linux distro. If it ever *ceases* to be around, I'll have to take up the Slack myself. ;)

  5. I love Slack! by miketang16 · · Score: 2, Interesting

    I'm running an upgraded, 9.0 Slackware right now. It's awesome, everything works great, and how you would expect it too. btw.. Does anyone know if there's an automatic update utility for Slack, like Debian has?

    --
    -------
    "In times of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act."
    -- George Orwell
  6. Real-World Experience by Joel+Rowbottom · · Score: 4, Interesting
    Over at Fotopic and CentralNic we've already been using the Slackware pre stuff in production environments and it's pretty damn solid. It's also quite nice that automake and such deals with the Slack package format.

    I've also got it running nicely on my laptop (HP Omnibook 9000), it's damn fine. Kudos to Pat and the gang.

    --
    Smegma.
  7. Waiting for Zipslack/Bigslack by phavens · · Score: 5, Interesting
    I've used Slackware for many things... But I have to say that Zipslack and Bigslack are two things I've enjoy and use the most.

    Have a old computer that doesn't have a whole lot of space? ZipSlack.

    Have no CD-Rom on a computer or just want a FAST easy ready made distro? Big slack. (just extract the zipped files over from a zip disk on the Hard Drive. Edit a text file... reboot :-) Fully functional Linux Distro.

    The problem is that usually it takes a bit after the main release before the goodies really come out.

    I use SuSE for most everything else but these ready made Distro are great.

    --
    Patrick Havens (Mr. 573333 to you.) Graphic Artist / Coder / Father / Journeler
  8. Speaking of cutting teeth... by pongo000 · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I know a lot of people who first cut their teeth on Slack when trying Linux.

    I almost didn't become a Linux convert thanks to Slackware...I made the mistake of trying to install Slackware as my first Linux O/S back in '96. It was a nightmare straight from the bowels of O/S hell. I spent weeks trying to get my 486 running with X (this with no prior Unix knowledge). I finally gave up, and a few years later discovered SuSE and their YaST installer.

    Ironically, I now run Slackware on most of my machines...go figure. It's a slick distro, and I've learned a lot since those dark days of '96.

  9. Beta by rjoseph · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Been using the beta for about two weeks now, and I'm incredibley impressed, this may be one of the best Slackware releases yet (and I've been using it since...like, 3.0 days, or 'round there. Damn, I'm getting old).

    Check it out - Slackware is still alive and kicking ass!

  10. Re:A true throwback distro by stratjakt · · Score: 2, Interesting

    It depends what you're installing the distro for.

    All the linux boxes in my home run slackware (save my coyotelinux based router), because they are all headless; a samba based PDC, a squid proxy, a VPN host, a couple more samba based storage machines. All are built out of spare parts.

    None require X, only one has compilation tools. None need the plethora of stuff that come with other distros.

    Slackware works just the way I want it. All I want is a kernel and a few basic utilities.

    I've never considered it the 'hard way', or call it a badge of honor. It's the easiest way to get what I want on a box without wasting any precious space. And when you're trying to cram squid and dansguardian onto a 3.6 gig HDD, you want all the extra space you can get.

    I'll cede that if I wanted a desktop OS with web browsers and working net connections, I'd stay away from slackware. But for what I do its the best tool for the job.

    --
    I don't need no instructions to know how to rock!!!!
  11. Oh the memories ... by WeeBull · · Score: 5, Interesting
    October 1994, issue 97 of "PC Plus". Almost 80MB of Slackware 2.0.0, kernel v 1.0.9. Manna from heaven, considering I only had a 9600 baud modem at the time. (Insert fancy maths here for calculating how long 80MB would take to download at 9600bps - about, what, 20 hours?)

    Happy memories.

    *raises glass* This one for you, Patrick, thanks.

  12. W007 by 0x1337 · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Slack has been my first - and my current. I played around with SuSe - it was godawful. By the way Patrick - I have been able to install your 1995 Slackware (3.2?) Onto an IBM MCA PS/2 M55SX with a 60 GB ESDI disc, and 2.9 MB of memory (Thats right - 2.9mb !!!) Too bad I fried the machine later... :( Oh well ! Time to go dload the 9.0

  13. Enlightenment? by tekniklr · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Looking at ftp://ftp.slackware.com/pub/slackware/slackware-9. 0/PACKAGES.TXT, it looks like this version of Slack doesn't include Enlightenment....

    Anyone know why?

  14. Re:fp by RLiegh · · Score: 2, Interesting

    "FreeBSD is for people who love unix..."
    Isn't slackware's motto something along the lines of "the most unix-like linux"?
    Even though I switch between XP and NetBSD, I would not have gotten into NetBSD if I hadn't gotten into FreeBSD. And I wouldn't have gotten into FreeBSD without having learned on slackware.

    So thank you, Pat. :^)