www.slackware.org http://www.slackware.org Sun, 15 Jan 2012 00:00:00 +0000 en hourly 1 Interesting Facts: Slackware http://www.slackware.org/2012/01/15/interesting-facts-slackware/ http://www.slackware.org/2012/01/15/interesting-facts-slackware/#comments Sun, 15 Jan 2012 00:00:00 +0000 admin http://www.slackware.org/?p=11 Whether you’ve got HughesNet or DSL you probably haven’t heard of Slackware unless you’re a developer. The operating system is the best kept secret on the web and we’ve got a few “bet you didn’t knows” to test your tech-knowledge. Here are some Slackware Facts:
Slackware is one of the first free operating systems built specifically for the Linux platform and it’s one of the oldest being maintained to this day.
Patrick Volderking is the brain behind Slackware and he’s only in his mid-50s. He calls himself the “Slackware Benevolent Dictator for Life” and he actually got his undergraduate degree from the University of Minnesota.
The name Slackware came about when the creators decided to work on it with no commitments or obligations – it became a side project that blossomed into a full-time endeavor. The pursuit of slack is a widely-known tenant of the Church of Subgenius.
In 1999 Slackware versions jumped from number 4 to number 7 in an attempt to keep up with the numbering system of Linux itself. Volderking didn’t want the OS to seem outdated by comparison.

]]> http://www.slackware.org/2012/01/15/interesting-facts-slackware/feed/ 0 Review Of Linux Based Slackware Operating System http://www.slackware.org/2012/01/14/review-of-linux-based-slackware-operating-system/ http://www.slackware.org/2012/01/14/review-of-linux-based-slackware-operating-system/#comments Sat, 14 Jan 2012 00:00:00 +0000 admin http://www.slackware.org/?p=12 The very first version of the Linux operating system I installed back in 1994 was Slakware Linux. Now, in its 13th version, as of spring 2010, the operating system continues to remain a viable platform for users to install. So what’s makes for the appeal of this flavor of Linux compared to others? Let’s explore that.

The most Unix-like
Well, admittedly, that sounds like competitive bluster amongst teenage boys, but Slakware Linux does stick very much to using text files for its configuration files. Also, true to the Unix standard, the best work is done on the command-line. So users wanting to get the most out of this operating system are well-advised to know a basic set of Unix commands (ls, find, and grep) along with Unix regular expressions (,,,,,,) and the vi editor. While this may seem daunting to some and does present itself as a steep learning curve, rest assured it’s a steep hill and not a mountain. Also, the skills learned in administrating a Slakware Linux installation will lend themselves well to the other commercial Unix flavors that pay very good money to understand.

User-interface
Slakware may be the most Unix-like Linux flavor on the market, but you will still be able to make use of KDE, openbox, XFCE and other graphical user interfaces. So if you’re thinking your entire Slakware experience will be in a command-shell, you’re wrong. When it comes to writing papers, using a spreadsheet, playing DVDs, mp3 tunes, reading e-mail and surfing the net, you’ll do so in the full class and style as had on other Linux flavors.

Ease of Installation
The easiest way to install Slakware is to download the DVD image which is free. There are other ways to be sure but this is the easiest for beginners.

In short, if you want to just use a flavor of Linux there are as many options out there as coffee, but if you want to gain a solid foundation of “Unix” then Slakware is for you.

]]> http://www.slackware.org/2012/01/14/review-of-linux-based-slackware-operating-system/feed/ 0 History of Patrick Volkerding, Linux and Slackware http://www.slackware.org/2011/09/21/history-of-patrick-volkerding-linux-and-slackware/ http://www.slackware.org/2011/09/21/history-of-patrick-volkerding-linux-and-slackware/#comments Wed, 21 Sep 2011 00:00:00 +0000 admin http://www.slackware.org/?p=10 Patrick Volkerding, 44, grew up in Minnesota, and graduated from Minnesota State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in computer science. He is a highly acclaimed and respected software engineer. He is the founder and present CEO of Slackware Linux Distribution. Volkerding, is a connoisseur of beer, and enjoys brewing his own beers. When he first developed software, he would ask admirers of his work to reward him with beer. He is also an avid fan of the band, the ‘Grateful Dead’. Volkerding created Slackware in 1993. Slackware, is the oldest operating system that is being used today. Volkerding came up with name Slackware, as a way to not take his project seriously, he did not initially create Slackware as a long term permanent project. It was originally intended as a short term time side project. The name took off with the project. Slackwares origins was an offshoot of the ‘Softlanding Linux System’, SLS. That system was the first to have a complete software system that had basic utilities and the kernal. Volkerding did not intend to make his version of the SLS available to the general public, he did so after deciding there was a need for it.

]]> http://www.slackware.org/2011/09/21/history-of-patrick-volkerding-linux-and-slackware/feed/ 0 Simplicity Of The Slackware Operating System http://www.slackware.org/2011/09/19/simplicity-of-the-slackware-operating-system/ http://www.slackware.org/2011/09/19/simplicity-of-the-slackware-operating-system/#comments Mon, 19 Sep 2011 00:00:00 +0000 admin http://www.slackware.org/?p=9 Take away all of the expensive upgrades. Take away all of the updates and large update files. Take away all of the hype behind the brand name. Remove all of these factors from your operating system and what do you have? The not-so-obvious answer is Slackerware.

Slackerware is an open source application that may not be known to many people, but it is a very simply operating system that is free. It doesn’t have all of the bells and whistles that has made Microsoft popular, but it doesn’t need them.

This great thing about this software is that users have the ability to have a voice. They can input their ideas and inspire improvements in development. The software loads much quicker, and it doesn’t take 2GB or 3GB to run efficiently. It is simple because it doesn’t take up the entire hard drive. It’s just the right size for those that are looking for an OS for an older system.

The fact that the software is easier to use makes it one of the best open source tools on the market. Consumers may be loyal to Microsoft, but this is only because many of them do not know about Slackerware.

]]> http://www.slackware.org/2011/09/19/simplicity-of-the-slackware-operating-system/feed/ 0 Patrick Volkerding Creates Slackware Operating System http://www.slackware.org/2011/09/15/patrick-volkerding-creates-slackware-operating-system/ http://www.slackware.org/2011/09/15/patrick-volkerding-creates-slackware-operating-system/#comments Thu, 15 Sep 2011 00:00:00 +0000 admin http://www.slackware.org/?p=8 Patrick Volkerding Creates Slackware Operating System

The mastermind behind the Slackware Linux system (creator of the Slackware Linux system) is Patrick Volkerding. Creating such a system was the pride and joy of Patrick Volkerding’s entire career acomplishments. Slackware, a Linux based system (Linux is an assortment of different software including text documents, word processors, spreadsheets, audio software, and media software.), and was created in 1993. Volkerding is basically the CEO of the Slackware company, managing it with full force. The goal of Slackware is to make presented tasks slightly more easy to deal with, and manageable. Slackware (jokingly named for slacking off) was not created as an extremely serious project, but became increasingly serious. In 1993, the first version of the software was released to the public. Slackware is basically made up of an installer, boot loader, init system, user environment, administrator controls, and 32-bit compatibility libraries. The mascot icon for Slackware is a penguin used for advertising purposes. Slackware was the highest purchased Linux system. Slackware continues to advance in technology, user stability, and general additives. As Patrick Volkerding continues to manage the Slackware Linux system, he will indeed advance the productivity in the future (for the well-being of the company and product).

]]> http://www.slackware.org/2011/09/15/patrick-volkerding-creates-slackware-operating-system/feed/ 0 Origins Of The Slackware Operating System http://www.slackware.org/2011/09/12/origins-of-the-slackware-operating-system/ http://www.slackware.org/2011/09/12/origins-of-the-slackware-operating-system/#comments Mon, 12 Sep 2011 00:00:00 +0000 admin http://www.slackware.org/?p=7 Slackware is the oldest maintained distribution of Linux, a term used to refer to a number of operating systems originally patterned after UNIX and created from the Linux kernel built by Linus Torvalds in 1992. It originated with a series of changes made by Patrick Volkerding to the Softlanding Linux System (SLS) in 1993 that ultimately lead to the creation of Slackware Linux, Inc. Volkerding has remained the primary contributor to the operating system throughout its existence and has relied only on a small team of developers for assistance.This/tag helps explain it more.

Slackware Linux distinguishes itself from other distributions by remaining as true to its UNIX origins as possible. Unlike its contemporaries, Slackware-s default user interface is a command line rather than the more traditional window-based graphical display. A text-based interface is also used for installation and administration, although some administrative tasks are performed through ASCII-based dialogs. All aspects of the operating system are designed to remain as simple and stable as possible.

Since its inception at least one new version of Slackware has been released each year, with the current version for i386 and x86_64 architectures standing at 13.37 since April 27, 2011. Future release dates are not made available for Slackware.

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