Slackware 14.1
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Developer | Patrick Volkerding |
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OS family | Unix-like (based on Softlanding Linux System) |
Working state | Current |
Source model | Open source |
Initial release | 17 July 1993 |
Latest release | 14.2 / 30 June 2016 |
Available in | Multilingual |
Update method | pkgtools, slackpkg |
Package manager | pkgtools, slackpkg |
Platforms | IA-32, x86-64, ARM, S/390 |
Kernel type | Monolithic (Linux) |
Userland | GNU |
Default user interface | CLI |
License | GNU General Public License |
Official website | www |
Slackware is a Linux distribution created by Patrick Volkerding in 1993. Originally based on Softlanding Linux System, Slackware has been the basis for many other Linux distributions, most notably the first versions of SUSE Linux distributions, and is the oldest distribution that is still maintained.
Slackware aims for design stability and simplicity and to be the most "Unix-like" Linux distribution. It makes as few modifications as possible to software packages from upstream and tries not to anticipate use cases or preclude user decisions. In contrast to most modern Linux distributions, Slackware provides no graphical installation procedure and no automatic dependency resolution of software packages. It uses plain text files and only a small set of shell scripts for configuration and administration. Without further modification it boots into a command-line interface environment. Because of its many conservative and simplistic features, Slackware is considered to be most suitable for advanced and technically inclined Linux users.
Slackware is available for the IA-32 and x86-64 architectures, with a port to the ARM architecture. While Slackware is mostlyfree and open source software, it does not have a formal bug tracking facility or public code repository, with releases periodically announced by Volkerding. There is no formal membership procedure for developers and Volkerding is the primary contributor to releases.
The name "Slackware" stems from the fact that the distribution started as a private side project with no intended commitment. To prevent it from being taken too seriously at first, Volkerding gave it a humorous name, which stuck even after Slackware became a serious project.
Slackware refers to the "pursuit of Slack", a tenet of the Church of the Subgenius. Certain aspects of Slackware graphics reflect this — the pipe which Tux is smoking, as influenced by the image of J. R. "Bob" Dobbs' head.