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Slackware 11 Has Been Released

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on Tue Oct 03, 2006 07:43 AM
from the come-a-long-way dept.
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."
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[+] Technology: Slackware 11 is Coming 115 comments
ejd3 writes "In the slackware-current changelog Pat has stated that 'Although there's still quite a bit in the TODO queue here I'm making my steps carefully as -current is very stable, and I think it should ship as a stable 11.0 soon so that we can get back to the business of breaking things in -current. :-)' How much longer will the slackers have to wait?"
[+] Slackware 11.0 Almost Done 190 comments
linuxbeta writes "DistroWatch reports that the development process for Slackware Linux 11.0 is almost over. OSDir has some sweet shots of Slackware 11.0 RC1 in the Slackware 11.0 RC1 Screenshot Tour." From the article: "'There are still a few changes yet to happen, but let's call this Slackware 11.0 release candidate 1.' Other recent changes include upgrade to stable kernel 2.4.33; upgrade to udev 097, and rebuild of glibc 2.3.6 for both 2.4.33 and 2.6.16.27 kernels. The new release will ship with X.Org 6.9.0 and KDE 3.5.4, and will provide SeaMonkey instead of Mozilla."
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  • 2.4 kernel vs 2.6? (Score:3, Interesting)

    by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday October 03 2006, @07:48AM (#16289775)
    Anyone know why they stuck with making 2.4 series kernel default over 2.6? (They do, however, provide 2.6)
    • by MobyTurbo (537363) on Tuesday October 03 2006, @07:56AM (#16289857)
      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: (Score:3, Informative)

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

      I'd guess because there's no 2.7 branch - 2.6 is open to a lot of experimentation. If I'm looking for stability 2.6 isn't it... It might be functionally stable but as far as dev goes it could be broken at any time.

      That said, I install a 2.6 kernel on all my Slack boxes (Which is not a subset of all my boxes now that I think about it...)
  • Glad to hear it (Score:5, Insightful)

    by Rob Kaper (5960) on Tuesday October 03 2006, @07:55AM (#16289849) Homepage
    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 (Score:4, Interesting)

    by Morrigu (29432) on Tuesday October 03 2006, @07:56AM (#16289865) Homepage Journal
    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.
    • by Skater (41976) on Tuesday October 03 2006, @08:05AM (#16289919) Homepage Journal
      Distrowatch used to have a great comment about Slackware:

      "If you want to know how Linux works, ask a Slackware user." :)
    • by shudde (915065) on Tuesday October 03 2006, @08:09AM (#16289943)

      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.

    • by uncleFester (29998) on Tuesday October 03 2006, @08:11AM (#16289955) Homepage Journal
      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.
    • by Ravenscall (12240) on Tuesday October 03 2006, @08:19AM (#16290009)
      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...

    • by Noryungi (70322) on Tuesday October 03 2006, @08:25AM (#16290045) Homepage Journal
      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.
    • by Bandman (86149) on Tuesday October 03 2006, @08:49AM (#16290235) Homepage
      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".
  • Welcome to the World of tomorrow!
  • Die Hard (Score:3, Interesting)

    by slummy (887268) <shawnuth@gma i l . com> on Tuesday October 03 2006, @07:59AM (#16289883) Homepage
    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 (Score:3, Informative)

    by arun_s (877518) on Tuesday October 03 2006, @08:00AM (#16289887) Homepage Journal
    I've been checking the changelog [slackware.com] twice a day for a helluva long time, and its finally come.

    Here's the full list of mirrors [slackware.com] from where you can download it!
    (Or you can get the torrents [slackware.com])
      • Re: (Score:3, Informative)

        Ummm, Gnome has a built in bittorrent client, so a few Distro's must have it already
      • Re: (Score:3, Informative)

        I suppose some might have a Torrent client on their installation CDs, but the closest you can get with Slackware, if you have slapt-get installed:

        echo "SOURCE=http://ftp.scarlet.be/pub/linuxpackages/Sl ackware-10.2/" >> /etc/slapt-get/slapt-getrc
        slapt-get --update
        slapt-get --install ktorrent (assuming you have a functional KDE)
  • by Noryungi (70322) on Tuesday October 03 2006, @08:08AM (#16289937) Homepage Journal
    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? :-)
  • Dropline Gnome (Score:4, Informative)

    by pjbgravely (751384) <<pjbgravely2> <at> <gmail.com>> on Tuesday October 03 2006, @08:50AM (#16290243) Homepage Journal
    For a better slack experience, if you are using a GUI that is, I recommend Dropline Gnome http://www.droplinegnome.net/ [droplinegnome.net]

    You may have to wait to use it on Slackware 11, but if you like Ubuntu you will like it.
      • Re: (Score:3, Interesting)

        I like both Gnome (and Ubuntu) and Slackware. How? Specialization. Ubuntu on desktops, Slackware on servers. Each has their place.
        • Re: (Score:3, Insightful)

          1: Lack of proper package management

          What about slapt-get etc? Sounds like package management to me... one of the posters here stated he'd upgraded from 10.2 to 11 without a glitch.

          2: Lack of configuration tools. Want to get things done? Want that thing setup now? Go to your favorite text editor and edit those config files by hand, even though it's utterly brainless work that any decent distro should have automated.

          That, really, is a matter of taste.
          I like manual configuration; you have to learn where th