Slackware Linux is a distribution of the GNU / Linux operating system created in 1993 by Patrick Volkerding aimed at advanced users. Originally based on SLS Linux, Slackware is the oldest GNU / Linux distribution still under maintenance.
Its current version is version 14.2, released on July 1, 2016. It contains an easy-to-use installation program, although it is text-based, unlike other installation environments based on graphical environments. It also has extensive documentation in English and a menu-based package management system.
What differentiates Slackware Linux from other Linux distributions is that it closely resembles Unix operating systems. To this end, it includes software that is not normally found in other Linux distributions, such as the latest version of the Korn shell command environment.
A full installation includes an implementation of the X Window System for the X.Org window system; desktop environments like KDE.
Since its first beta release in April 1993, the Slackware Linux Project has aimed to produce the most Unix-like Linux distribution out there. Slackware complies with published Linux standards, such as the Linux File System Standard. We have always considered simplicity and extreme stability, as a result Slackware has become one of the most popular, stable and user-friendly distributions available.
Slackware main features
Slackware is a distribution that does not focus on having the latest versions of the programs, but rather its focus is on having a stable system. The new packages are put to the test and are not delivered until they are stable (this does not imply that it is the last available version of the program), for example the Linux 2.6 kernel was not included. Until 2007, having been released version 2.6.0 in 2003. But when a package has an update due to bugs or security improvements, these are incorporated into the Slackware packages and announced through a mailing list of such updates and in the log of changes (changelog) found on the website. Slackware includes the Slackpkg program within the / extra directory of the installation CD, which helps to keep the system up to date.
Slackware Linux is a complete 32-bit multitasking Unix-like system. It is currently based on the 2.6 series Linux kernel and GNU C Library version 2.7 (libc6). It contains an easy-to-use installation program, extensive online documentation, and a menu-driven package management system.
A complete installation will provide the X Window System, C / C ++ development environments, Perl, network utilities, a mail server, news server, ftp server, the GNU Image Manipulation Program, Mozilla Firefox and many other programs. Slackware Linux can run on 486 systems and all the latest x86 machines.
