Doesn't need it??

What is it that you wanna say?

I mean, that Slackware doesn't have a proper Package Manager, though all that you need on slack are pkgtool, installpkg, upgradepkg, removepkg, makepkg and explodepkg. I have always sticked to these applications, and I had never have any problems. Also I'm pretty used to install from source, which is easier and pleaser to me.

Hi,

I've never really been a 'Distro Bunny'! Some people hop from distro to distro and never find a firm nestinig place. I find Slackware meets my needs. I do have other Live-CDs' to perform utility work on other machines. Slax,DSL, LFS and SystemRecueCD to name a few. Even knoppix has got some machines out of trouble.

I've played with a few that I thought would be interesting but never made the jump because of my bias to Slackware. As far as I'm concerned PV did a great service for the Linux community.

I come from academia and heve been using UNIX since the early 70s'. I really can't see paying for a license since the GNU/linux appeared. The cost is minimal if you don't count the time spent $$$$.

Just my .02 !

Yeah, Portage is the PM for Gentoo.

I'd like to add that ROCK Linux is another source based Linux. Its build system is a collection of Bash scripts, and can be implemented in Slackware. It has about the same capabilities as Gentoo's portage, and maybe more.

In fact, ROCK tries to be a distribution build kit. Once you have built your own distro, you can manage it with a package management system similar to Portage.

Worth a look, especially as the small community is very nice and helpful.

http://www.rocklinux.org

gargamel

Short answer:
Slackware is best distro for learning linux and how to maintain it

Gentoo is best distro for learning how to manually install linux, and to easily stay on the bleeding edge

Longer answer:
I think that every new linux user should start out on slack to learn linux as it is easy to intall, very stable, and very customizable without the limitations of GUIs. The user is forced to learn to take care of their system using command line tools and they also often will have to compile programs manually from the source (or use the source to create packages, etc). Users can get around this using various sources but using these basic methods provides invaluable experience and knowledge allowing the user to have the ability to affectively administer ANY linux distro.

After a user is more familiar with linux I would suggest trying out gentoo by installing and compiling everything from the source. The setup and install time is great, but the experience gives the user a deeper understanding of linux (in this case the installation process that slackware breezes through). After having a good understanding
of this the user should be ready to try installing other distros from source or even start creating their own distro. In addition, portage is a nice gentoo feature if a user wants to stay on the bleeding edge.

--phil

ah man, don't encourage the creation of new distros. We should support the distros we already have. If Slackware is so great, why would we need another distro? What should be done is, if you have an improvement with a distro, try to send it in to see if it is implemented by the developer. If not, make a webpage that shows how to implement those changes on, lets say Slackware. I think we have a lot of distros already. What we need to do is help these distros mature to a level where there are lots of people to support them and continue it's future. Lets stop the fragmentation.

I also think that Zenwalk and Arch have the right idea. Install a common base to get started and then, from there, install other applications you may need.

All applications should be developed like Firefox for example, with a method of extensions that are added to make the product better. You can either choose to add this extension or not add it and remain with the barebones.

This could apply for office applications. You could have a Word program with the bare minimal toolbars and functionality. But through plugins/extensions, functionality can be added or not, and therefore, only the best of the best extensions survive and all have a common ground that will work on linux, windows and others. There will also not be all the fragmentation of user community working on too many things and not doing it right.

I don't know what it would take to get started, but since there are so many projects already availiable, nobody just wants to forfit all their hard work and work on what someone else tells them. Also I guess open source is about choice, like many say, but I believe if some common ground is established, we could all be more unified as a community as well.

Just an idea I had while reading this and I thought I would type it up for later reference. If you don't agree, feel free to say so or just erase this post if it's useless.

-Anonymo

I used Slackware for 18 months before trying Gentoo. Slack was stable, staightforward and IMO the best distro for learning Linux. For instance, I had previously used Suse for two years without learning a fraction of what I learned in a few months with Slack.

I found Gentoo to be a superb distro in many ways. It takes you to the next level of learning and Portage is first rate. My only gripe was the length of time it took to set up a working desktop system (about three weeks compared to a couple of evenings with Slack). Compile times are long and every few weeks I had to emerge update world overnight and then spend an hour or so on the config file updates to keep my system current. Just too much admin for a home box!

This is why I am now trying Debian. I've not been with it long so I will reserve my opinion for now.

My advice would be: if your happy with Slackware stay with it!

I was not actually encouraging people to start making new distros just for the sake of having yet another distro. I was actually encouraging people to learn how to make a distro (or even their favorite distro) from scratch so that they have a deeper understanding of Linux. I agree that this "fragmentation" that you speak of does make the progress of Linux a harder battle- much like the various denominations of Christianity creates stuggles. However, in both cases this fragmentation does eventually lead the way to produce something exceptional. Where would we be now if Pat had decided not to "fragment" Linux or if Linus had not decided to "fragment" Unix? I think Bill Gates could tell you...

That's pretty much what Linux is minus the point and click simplicity that Firefox extensions have.

--phil

but we need point and click simplicity.

I'm working on my own bash script to automate package management, just coz I wonna learn more of bash! (I'm trying to resolve dinamically dependencies for binaries -not for interpreted languages-).
(too) many times "good Package management" means "dependency resolution".
from my point of view this is not a need for a server application, instead can be usefull for desktop use coz usually you put a lot of more binaries on a desktop and also those binaries are more complex and full of dependencies (try MPlayer or some combination of cli utils + graphic front ends like 'dvix-rip').
in my opinion slack is perfect for server and is just a bit more boring for desktop use, but is just a matter of "how many seconds do I must spend to d.load all dependencies and install them with installpkg?"
Some solutions as frugalware or rubix are nice, but from my point of view a small C tool and a little hack of slackpkg can add a robust and fast dependency resolution to slackware without the introduction of more complexity and without "external" apps as pacman (which seems to be really good as I can read around in the net)
the only thing I "hate" is that when I wonna uninstall an app I never remember its dependencies (specially the unshared ones) so I'm building my own script for this task

M

It's a nice idea but in practice it depends on the user knowing exactly what he/she wants from the app and what plugins are available. The newcomer is going to be baffled by this and probably turned away by the apparent lack of features in the basic app.

IMO, if Linux is going to reach the masses then it has to be as accessible as possible to every child and every granny, not just to those of us who wish to study the OS. How many potential users are going to even know what a plugin is let alone how to install it? Try a search on LQ for Firefox Flashplayer plugin installation to get an idea of the sort of problems some people have encountered.

to the_real_absinthe:

Maybe you are looking for Slackdeptrack .

I wanted to try out gentoo on an old pc. The problem I had was the installer was fixed with resolution of 1024x768 and the monitor can only do 800x600. So in the initial setup, I had instant failure. They give no optionn to do 640x480 or 800x600. It's a shame as I heard that gentoo was like slackware and good for old computers, but the fact that they dont support resolutions off the bat on the installer was really odd to say the least.

One more reason why I like Pat's philosophy on Slackware: Keeping it simple, yet very usable.