Slackware 8.1 Preview

[merlin262]

While waiting to switch to my distro full time(which is being bundled with Duke Nukem Forever), I've been testing a couple other Distros for compatibility and such. ANYWAYS....

Slackware is the first Linux distribution I've ever used - and over the years, it has changed the least.

New to Slackware 8.1:
kernel 2.4.18 w/ enhancements,
gnome 1.4,
kde 3.0.1,
mozilla 1.0,
xfree86 4.2

I somewhat expect to see KDE updated for the next release, allthough it is doubtful that Gnome will be moved to 2.0(as it is still BETA).

Installation is the exact same as previous versions of slackware. Really, if I want an install this lowlevel, I'd probably rather be compiling everything ala Linux from Scratch - but .. this does save compile time. The key thing to remember using the color setup - missed keystrokes are a killer. Be careful about hitting keys, because the setup program is NOT forgiving. Hit enter twice - and watch as the next menu skips by - usually without being displayed long enough to even see it was.

Package selection in slackware is pretty thin, I installed most of the available packages, giving a grand total of a little over 1 gig total system installation - and a grand total of 341 packages.

Installation is *VERY* quick, so getting the system installed is no problem. However, there are no nice GUI configuration programs. Fortunately, the default installation does include all of the documentation you'll need to configure everything by hand.

No doubt Slackware fans will find this release to be a great continuance of the Slackware series. It is definately not for n00bs.

There where only a couple problems I noted:
1. NOTHING seems to be compiled with Xinerama support. Pain in the arse for people like me w/ a multi monitor setup.

2. The default kernel seems to have problems with input and USB. I think this has been fixed though.

3. A few of the packages are older versions - slackware is still a gcc 2.95.3 distribution.

4. Not really an issue but worth noting. Slackware continues to be more like BSD than a standard Linux distribution, the slackware way of doing things will feel very new for most Linux users.

5. Install is definately not user friendly, and n00bs will probably be bothered by the complete and total lack of setup tools.

Those people that like Unix/BSD a bit more than Linux, should probably give Slackware a try.

[Vermillion]

Speaking of which Merlin, when will your Distro be available?? Like an idea of maybe when to be expecting it?? 8 months??

Also, u gonna have some Beta that we can try out anytime?? Just wonderin', because it sounds like a killer distro.

[merlin262]

We have a great deal with the guys at BitBoyz and the makers of Duke Nukem Forever. The distro and Duke Nukem will both be bundled with the next BitBoyz card. Hehe...

Seriously, HaX and I are attempting to do a lot,. Right now, we just want to get the new API's out to developers, probably in the form of pkgs for other distros.

A developer version will come out shortly after that, and then hopefully a full release. My personal goal is to get some of the major developer packages out before the end of the Summer. The rest of the distro will hopefully follow shortly.

Big Note: All software developed for the distro will be Free Software, no proprietary stuff, although our approach is VERY different.

[merlin262]

Update: 1.0 is now out. It looks to have a few minor fixes over what I beta tested.

[Alybe]

Alybe gets to be beta tester.....