A long wait has come to end
Posted 01-18-2022 at 01:33 PM by carriunix
I know, Slackware 15.0 is not released yet, but I decided to write about the waiting in advance. Obviously, there will be more interesting things to write about once it is installed. The time of "about the waiting" is now. Slackware 14.2 was released in July 1st, 2016. Along six years a lot of things happened to me, to all community of users, and also to Mr. Volkerding. Financial problems, health issues, though decisions, pandemics.
In this mean time, I grown up as a Slacker. I have learned more about the system. I have learned mode about coding/scripting, how to use git
. I have used -current for the first time (I'm late, I know!).
Many people think that the Slackware's longest release cycle contributed to put away users, new and older ones. It is probably true. But also, in my perspective, it brought the user community closer together. At least, I am more closer and aware of the Slacker community now than I was six years ago. Those who stuck with Slackware through the storm, will celebrate together in the lull. That is a very important thing, because Slackware is not about "market size", "commercial value", "business partnerships": it is about the distribution philosophy. People who share the same principles (about computing, at least) should work together and "spread the word", finding solutions and helping each other. That is the definition of community! Maybe we are a smaller tribe now but we are more united.
A long wait force us to think over, to question our choices, to evaluate our options. The Slackware Linux, in general (the single user, the community, the development core and Mr. Volkerding), pass through this recently. I am sure that is a good thing and have made the project stronger. So, some users went away, some Slackers decided to move to -current, some Slackers patiently waited. The community created and strengthened projects (blogs, script and packages repositories, etc) and communication channels (irc channels, usenet group, foruns, etc) to solve problems, adapt solutions. Maybe we are few but now we are stronger.
I am sure that we will grow in numbers when 15 is released. We will add many "seasoned users" and some who will became Slackers. The communit will grow, Slackware will grow, our principles will remain: simplicity, stability and control of your own system. Thanks to all names that appears in Changelog.txt (or not) and somehow helped to get there. Thank you, Mr. Volkerding!
Slackware is dead. Long live Slackware!
May the Source be with you!
~carriunix
In this mean time, I grown up as a Slacker. I have learned more about the system. I have learned mode about coding/scripting, how to use git
. I have used -current for the first time (I'm late, I know!).Many people think that the Slackware's longest release cycle contributed to put away users, new and older ones. It is probably true. But also, in my perspective, it brought the user community closer together. At least, I am more closer and aware of the Slacker community now than I was six years ago. Those who stuck with Slackware through the storm, will celebrate together in the lull. That is a very important thing, because Slackware is not about "market size", "commercial value", "business partnerships": it is about the distribution philosophy. People who share the same principles (about computing, at least) should work together and "spread the word", finding solutions and helping each other. That is the definition of community! Maybe we are a smaller tribe now but we are more united.
A long wait force us to think over, to question our choices, to evaluate our options. The Slackware Linux, in general (the single user, the community, the development core and Mr. Volkerding), pass through this recently. I am sure that is a good thing and have made the project stronger. So, some users went away, some Slackers decided to move to -current, some Slackers patiently waited. The community created and strengthened projects (blogs, script and packages repositories, etc) and communication channels (irc channels, usenet group, foruns, etc) to solve problems, adapt solutions. Maybe we are few but now we are stronger.
I am sure that we will grow in numbers when 15 is released. We will add many "seasoned users" and some who will became Slackers. The communit will grow, Slackware will grow, our principles will remain: simplicity, stability and control of your own system. Thanks to all names that appears in Changelog.txt (or not) and somehow helped to get there. Thank you, Mr. Volkerding!
Slackware is dead. Long live Slackware!
May the Source be with you!
~carriunix
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