GNOME 2.20.3 for Slackware

Steve writes "Originally based on the Freerock GNOME project, GNOME.SlackBuild (GSB) brings the latest GNOME Desktop, 2.20.3, to Slackware Linux. It provides both a binary distribution and a complete GNOME source build system. The GSB project has been revitalized by a new development team that has, over the past several months of hard work, re-engineered the GSB source build system and brought the project back to the forefront of the GNOME packaging projects for Slackware. This project also supports and provides binary packages for x86_64 ports of Slackware, such as Slamd64. Follow the link for information about the project, screenshots, and downloads."

Comments

thank god for small miracles

[debatem1]

we should all just be happy that somebody, somewhere, got something working on slackware

Re:thank god for small miracles

[ledow]

./configure
make
sudo make install

What's hard? The fact that you don't have someone who's already done that for you? Then try LinuxPackages.net for just about any Slackware-compiled software you need. The fact that there's no dependency-resolution? Either a) get one of the many programs that does it for you or b) run the program, see what it's missing, download that, install that, rinse and repeat. Incidentally, method B was how I've built dozens, if not hundreds of Slackware installs from scratch and takes up less than about 10% of total build time over the life of the machine - and once you're past the "I've got most things now" barrier, you hardly touch dependant software at all except to update.

I use Slackware for anything from a blackbox router to a full desktop (not just for me, I might add). It's running transparent cache/proxy/filters in a 1000-student school I worked in, it's running a security system including CCTV motion capture, it's running web hosts in dedicated facilities, it's running on several (600Mhz or thereabouts) laptops in a full desktop enviroment with wireless connection.

How long does it take to set any of them up? An hour or two to install Slackware (mostly because of the old hardware), a few minutes on a broadband connection to download the "extras" like codecs, libdvdcss, madwifi etc. for the desktops and it's only the stuff that Slackware isn't "allowed" to bundle anyway. Everything else just compiles. No messing about. So I don't see why the troll is necessary. Things just build when you build them.

The problem was - GNOME was dropped because it was becoming an increasing nightmare to compile and package it for Slackware - not because of a Slackware shortcoming. The beauty of Slackware is that virtually EVERYTHING that the base install includes is patch-free and just original source with a handful of configure parameters to put things in the right place. The kernel is pure, the software is pure, the boot scripts are plain, easy, modular and readable. It's almost an "LFS" install done right. No fancy patches to add third-party functionality and cope with different schemes that break original-author-support (Red Hat's patches to cdrecord and the like spring to mind, although I can't stand the man), patched-to-the-hilt kernels that just cause problems for bug-fixing, etc.

Stop spending your money on companies that try to "recreate" every bit of software only to have it break in the next version and them having to pay people to re-do their work over and over again (because the original authors want nothing to do with those proprietry extensions that add little). Start using a distro that sucks in code from the authors in the way they intended it and makes everything "just work".

Re:Focus of Slackware?

[Bandman]

The point of Slackware is linux, distilled.

As another comment above mentioned, the kernel is pure. The additional programs are few, but well tested. It is a great distro to run on a server, because it's rock solid, and it's a great distro to run on the desktop because it's rock solid. In addition, the major operation of slackware hasn't changed since it's inception. Sure, there are slightly more complex network scripts, and some changes to the hier here or there, but nothing major, and that's the way Slack users like it.

I know, I was a slack user for 10 years.

I quit because of 2 reasons. Ubuntu has a superior package manager in the synaptic interface, which resolves all of the issues I've confronted it with (which are few in number), and on my servers (60-80 throughout four data centers in three states) it has become impossible to do wide-spread management and updates, not to mention that when I roll out single-sign on, Slackware doesn't do PAM without massive, major changes to its infrastructure. So I run RHEL on my servers (their web interface for managing updates is outstanding) and Ubuntu on my desktop.

I leave Slackware sitting as my very few externally facing web servers, partially for old time's sake, and partially because after 10 years, there's not a hell of a lot they can do to surprise me.