I’m looking into advanced distros (like arch) and slackware is fascinating. Is it still supported/used? If you’d like to comment an alternative distro, please do.
I don’t think Slackware was ever widely used
Was, still is. Slackware users tend to not hype their distro of choice. Because, slack. :pipe:
I still use Slackware and it’s a great distro. I very much enjoy its batteries-included approach (a full install comes with pretty much everything pre-installed) and I enjoy its simplicity and ease of configuration and use. There’s a learning curve to get there, but once you understand how everything works it’s a distro that gets completely out of your way. The bonus is that if you understand Slackware, generally, your knowledge of GNU/Linux broadly will mean you’re never lost on any other distro either. Most of my frustrations with other distros actually stem from them patching something/doing something weird with config defaults, whereas Slackware ships stuff as it is from vendors with vendor defaults which I find a lot more palatable and predictable.
Philosophically, I like how Slackware is independent and beholden to no corporate entity. Controversies that have hit other distros in the past as a result of that just aren’t a thing with Slackware.
Slackware is a very rewarding distro to use even in 2023. It’s not for everyone, but I imagine there’s a fair amount of people like me who’ve probably been using it for ages and have had absolutely no reason to ever consider using anything else. Once you’ve got everything you want and configured stuff to your liking, it’ll just work forever fantastically.
Slackware may not be huge, but it is the base distro for Unraid.
Interesting! That’s news to me. Does Slackware still use the Sys V style init system or did the devs change it to systemd?
I’ve only barely gone beyond the more “backup + Docker appliance” style front end of Unraid, so I’m not sure. They make it extremely difficult for the untrained to get where you can break stuff. I am mostly an Arch/Debian guy.
I haven’t used Debian in eons but I have respect for it as well. I really like anything and everything open source
Man, I might have to look into using Slackware again for the first time. No matter how much more comfortable I’ve become with systemd, I still hate it with a passion. If Slackware can handle at least XFCE well, preferably Cinnamon, it’s worth diving back into. Been 25 years though.
If you can manage a Linux server, you likely have no use for Unraid. If you want to put together a Synology type appliance out of PC hardware to run Docker containers and uses ZFS for backups, Unraid is a fairly user friendly option.
I run a server on unraid.
Honestly, it works as a way to cut your teeth with a type 1 hypervisor.
Fairly user friendly, and the community seems to offer a lot of support.
That being said, I mainly use it as a file server and a place to host containerized stuff that doesn’t need to bog down a gaming rig.
I got the hardware for free, so other than upgading the CPU to 10 cores (used, 50 dollars, not bad) and paying for electricity, it just churns along doing its thing.
@hibby @razieltakato I have an Ubuntu server with ZFS I’ve been using for a while. Haven’t seen the need for unraid personally.
It is still supported and used. It’s been my distro of choice for several years.
if you choose the current or the stable stream, last update was yesterday:
- http://www.slackware.com/changelog/stable.php?cpu=x86_64
- http://www.slackware.com/changelog/current.php?cpu=x86_64
If you need help, there are many users that can help you here https://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/slackware-14/
Take a look at DistroWatch. I use it when I want to try a new distro, just for fun. Slackware is number 44 in the popularity rank.
