Slackware 11 Has Been Released

CCFreak2K writes "Slackware 11 has been officially released, just over a year after Slackware 10.2 became available. Software available with Slackware 11 includes KDE 3.5, Mozilla Seamonkey 1.0.5 and X11R6 6.9. As usual, ISOs are available through BitTorrent and FTPs, packages can be synced through FTPs, and you can always buy a copy."

Comments

2.4 kernel vs 2.6?

[Anonymous Coward]

Anyone know why they stuck with making 2.4 series kernel default over 2.6? (They do, however, provide 2.6)

Re:2.4 kernel vs 2.6?

[MobyTurbo]

Anyone know why they stuck with making 2.4 series kernel default over 2.6?

It's more stable, and uses less memory. Slackware however has been 2.6 ready since 9.1. Now they provide not one but two 2.6 kernels, one 2.6.17.x in /extra and one bleeding-edge 2.6.18 kernel in /testing, if that's what you prefer. (I wish however that Slackware still came on four disks (with two installation ones) rather than 6, I guess that'd be impossible if it provided less kernels. 8-) Of course, a lot of people complained when it went past one installation disk, thanks to KDE and (then-included) GNOME getting more bloated.)

Re:2.4 kernel vs 2.6?

[zlamma]

Here's Pat's view on the issue:
From the ChangeLog.txt from Fri Jul 14 18:31:20 CDT 2006
"I'm probably going to leave the bare.i 2.4.32 kernel as the default kernel (or perhaps sata.i?) as it has very good performance and probably better security due to the simpler and longer-tested design."

Re:But how

[Spookticus]

What is this debian in which you speak of? It must mean devil....and must be slayed

Glad to hear it

[Rob Kaper]

Congratulations, and kudos to Pat Volkerding. Many distributions have tried to convert me away from Slack in the past decade: none managed. Debian got close at some point, but with slapt-get in place Slackware's package management has become much easier (updated my laptop from 10.2 to -current with ease). Vanilla rocks.

Theoretical question

[Morrigu]

So let's say I'm a relative newbie to Linux, and I've just finished installing Ubuntu 6.06.1 LTS Dapper Drake on my laptop. I've read through the forums and have apt-gotten my way to a nice-looking Gnome or KDE desktop with 3D accelerated drivers for X, a bunch of useful apps and some games.

What does Slackware offer the newbie Linux user that something like Ubuntu doesn't?

Let's say I've been using Linux for years, and I'm a compulsive downloader and installer. I like trying out different OS's and desktop environments, everything from FreeDOS to CentOS to OpenBSD. I'm familiar enough with different package systems and administration styles to figure out how stuff works, but I don't want to spend a whole lot of time on something tedious and unrewarding.

What selling points does Slackware have for the interested & experienced Linux geek?

Just curious, not trolling.

Re:Theoretical question

[Skater]

Distrowatch used to have a great comment about Slackware:

"If you want to know how Linux works, ask a Slackware user." :)

Re:Theoretical question

[shudde]

What does Slackware offer the newbie Linux user that something like Ubuntu doesn't?

A learning experience that will stand you in good stead throughout many distributions.

Re:Theoretical question

[Ravenscall]

I concur here. It is not easy, but hell, if you want easy there is OS X and Windows. Using Slackware, customizing and tweaking it, you will learn, because, well, you HAVE to. However, it also allows you unparalelled customization without locking you into a specific format package manger. And if you cannot get a package to install, you can always just Use the Source.

It is funny, Using slackware, I always wondered what the big deal was with Gentoo users compiling thier own programs and such, until I tried Ubuntu one day and tried to compile something...

Re:Theoretical question

[Noryungi]

What does Slackware offer the newbie Linux user that something like Ubuntu doesn't?

The thing is (as far as I know) with Ubuntu (and many other distributions), you can use Linux just like you can use Windows: without knowing much, and without having to learn how to use a command line. It's nice, smooth, and not too hard. But you don't learn that much.

(Please note this is not to criticize Ubuntu, or any other distribution : Ubuntu is a great answer to a tough problem, how to make Linux useful for complete newbies).

With Slackware, you will have to learn . Sure, it will be tough, at first. But what you learn, you will be able to use on any Linux distributions, and on many other UN*Xes. I started with Slackware and I am today managing 10+ Solaris servers, as well as 12+ SuSE server. IMHO, what I learned under Slackware has been invaluable to the job I am doing today. YMMV, of course, but everyone I know who uses Slackware credit it with .

What selling points does Slackware have for the interested & experienced Linux geek?

Slackware is interesting for hard-core Linux Geeks because:

1. You have to learn. See above.
2. You get to compile tons of stuff, which is also a great learning experience. Plus, you learn how to be independent from one distribution.
3. Everything is open, everything is readable, everything is understandable. All configuration files and utilities are simple text and shell files. All the software compiled on Slackware, including the kernel, is vanilla: no annoying distribution-specific patches.
4. Slackware is your distribution, your way. Except you don't have to waste countless hours to compile everything, like you have to do under Gentoo or with LFS. It's usually faster and simpler to install than either of these Linux distributions. Install it, and you have the basis of a rock-solid Linux system, ready to go, and ready to go your way , not the "Debian", the "Red Hat" or the "Mandriva" way. That's a big difference.

Try Slackware, you may find yourself hooked!

And, again: this is not an attack on such-or-such distribution. I love all distributions, but Slackware always had -- and always will -- have a special place in my heart. And on my computers.

Re:Theoretical question

[Bandman]

Some friends of mine have a saying.

Use RedHat for a year, and you know RedHat really well.

Use Slackware for a year, and you know Linux really well.

It works, and requires that you learn. It's not a distobution for someone who wants to use a desktop and doesn't care how things work. It's for the person that says "I wonder what that file does".

Re:Theoretical question

[jazman_777]

Cue uninformed trolls saying that watching gcc output scrolling doesn't teach you anything....

But, but, don't you need to know how to speed read _before_ you start with Gentoo??

2.4.33? Ob. Futurama quote

[radu.stanca]

Welcome to the World of tomorrow!

Die Hard

[slummy]

I will use Slackware until it's demise. Even after it's long gone I will build a LFS installation that mimicks Slackware's simplicity.

download mirrors

[arun_s]

I've been checking the changelog twice a day for a helluva long time, and its finally come.

Here's the full list of mirrors from where you can download it!
(Or you can get the torrents)

Re:But how

[kelvinq]

How APT a reply! I thought all our minds have gone all woody reading /.

And there was much rejoicing...

[Noryungi]

Yep, finally we got Slackware 11, and the list of changes and improvements is impressive.

Just as an aside: Patrick Volkerding is one of the unsung heroes of Open Source. Slackware is after all the oldest Linux distribution still in operation, and it is also one of the most stable and well-managed. And this is quite an achievement, considering it still is a one-man operation, and that Patrick went through some tough times recently, with his health problems and the birth of his cute baby... Hey, I am a dad, too, and I know how tough it is wih a new-born in the house!

So, thanks for everything Patrick! You are "The Man" and Slackware rocks!

And, yes, I am a (very) satisfied Slackware customer. How did you ever guess? :-)

Re:Theoretical answer to theoretical question

[uncleFester]

What does Slackware offer the newbie Linux user that something like Ubuntu doesn't?

a more hands-on approach to the unix operating system. slackware isn't flashy, isn't what some would even call 'refined' but it is a stable, well-balanced hands-on distro. it's a little more 'primitive' in some things like package management (*whine* dependencies *whine*) but this also works in your favor when repairing a system (reliance only on tar if absolutely necessary). This is only one thought i came up with right quick..

What selling points does Slackware have for the interested & experienced Linux geek?

rock-solid stable. if you stick with distro-only packages, you can expect to have practically no problems with it. that's part of the reason the package versions are older; they're tested. pat doesn't go latest-n-greatest unless a large demand exists or a security vuln is found. fwiw, i had a slack3 mailserver at my 1st job acting as corporate email router/gateway for our entire company (~150 ppl). except for the kernel and sendmail itself*, the system was vanilla slack. ran like a top.

i've tried a number of distros for short periods (longest non-slack dabbling was gentoo).. but i keep drifting back to it. i'm also a unix admin by day, if that matters. for me, slack is just plain and simple the easiest distro i've dealt with.

-r

* only reason i went more current with sendmail was this being the time ~sendmail8 started adding antispam bits and it was overall easier than going back and trying to hack the stuff in v7.. and i always love dabbling with the -current kernel, whatever it is.

Re:package manager?

[Anonymous Coward]

Yeah, it's called "the System Administrator." ;)

Dropline Gnome

[pjbgravely]

For a better slack experience, if you are using a GUI that is, I recommend Dropline Gnome http://www.droplinegnome.net/

You may have to wait to use it on Slackware 11, but if you like Ubuntu you will like it.

Re:Torrent clients?

[pjbgravely]

Ummm, Gnome has a built in bittorrent client, so a few Distro's must have it already

Re:package manager?

[Trigun]

Long answer: Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

Re:package manager?

[CatsupBoy]

I remember Slackware back in the day, apart from updated packages, has it got a decent official package manager yet?

If by decent you mean bloated and riddled with cyclic dependancy verification: then, no it does not.

However, the package management solution that comes with Slackware (and always has) is durable, functional, and flexible. It has versioning information, so you can upgrade by package name. You arent stuck with hunting down un-necessary prerequisites because the author says you need them. And they are very easy to create and maintain (using a standard tar/gz format).

Above that, Patrick does a wonderful job from release to release by specifying every package naming changes, obsoletion, and addition in order to make upgrading easy.

Now, true, with checkinstall package creation is much easier in redhat/debian. And debian/ubuntu release updates are super easy. However, you cant diss a tried and proven solution just because its not feature ritch. It will allow you to do what any package management solution is designed to do: install, upgrade, remove software packages. Enough said.

Will Slackware ever officially port to x86_64?

[Andronicus]

I love Slackware. Grew up in Linux with it. Started in 1996. Still using it today as my primary distro.

All my current PCs CPUs now use AMD64 instruction sets. I'm motivated to moving them toward more pure AMD64 software. I've owned Athlon 64 CPUs for three years now, and still no wide and mainstream support for AMD64. All the 64-bit options currently are not as mainstream or as polished or conflict free.

I've been experimenting with the unofficial Slamd64 port with modest success. Fred Emmott is really a great champion and I appreciate greatly all his work. Slamd64 still has plenty of rough edges and may only approach, but perhaps not exceed, the smoothness and polish of the official distribution.

In the meantime, I'm experimenting with Slamd64 but also branching to other distros which claim full AMD64 support (xubuntu, SuSE, Gentoo are my current areas of focus) to guage whether they seem more mainstream and have smoother support.

Readers, why do you think there is no "official" effort to bring Slack to AMD64? Do you think this may change?

I know Patrick has commented previously on this. To turn a blind eye to AMD64 seems to me to shortchange the future of the distro. Slack was founded on i386 and has maintained steadfast focus on that architecture, and though AMD64 isn't so greatly different, i386 won't be with us always. What becomes of Slack then?

I would like to see Fred's fine start folded into a greater official port to lift out of the level of just being a curious project and to get the backing of a larger community.

Please share your views.