New To LQ and Slackware - Two Quick Questions
 

Greetings. I am new to LinuxQuestions and to the Slackware distribution.

As of right now I have Slackware installed, but I have two real quick questions:

First, I noticed that when I was going through the Slackware installer by default it all slated all packages and libraries to be installed. I took out all the packages I didnt want/need but I wasnt sure about all the libraries, so I left them all to be installed. Is there a way to do just a basic install of Slackware (install just the core files) and then take things from there on my own, like the base install with Arch or the minimal install with Debian?

Second, I know there is no package manager like apt or pacman, so do most Slackware users just compare changelogs to see updates and update based on that? How would I do that comparison on my Slackware box?

Thanks
RootPrompt

The real Slackers, I believe, read changelogs, while most of the other users just use some package manager to update the system.

Read this http://slackware.com/install/softwaresets.php

First, you can but it is usually better to do a full install, as the package manager does not manage dependencies.
Second, Slackware comes with slackpkg which does just that. If you installed from CD or DVD, make sure you grab the recently updated version (2.60) from a mirror.

Welcome to Linux and Slackware. :)

Pat says in the Slackware-HOWTO:
Only the A series category (containing the base Linux OS) is mandatory, but you can't do very much on a system that only has the A series installed.

http://slackware.mirrors.tds.net/pub...lackware-HOWTO

For a minimum install, I recommend:

A The base Slackware system.
AP Linux applications.
F Answers to Frequently Asked Questions about Linux.
L System libraries.
N Networking applications and utilities.
I think alot of Slackers like slackpkg to keep their systems up-to-date, it's located on the 2nd install disk in the extra folder, or from your favorite mirror site.

http://slackware.mirrors.tds.net/pub...xtra/slackpkg/

I usually follow slackware-security and slackware-announce mailing lists and manually install all security updates.

You should install all the things in 'A' and 'L' categories, and 'D' if you want to successfully compile things from source. Other than that, most things are optional, although, I think you would want 'X' for xorg and a window manager from 'XAP'.

As for package management ... don't ask me. I just install things when I feel like it. I don't upgrade ... ever :D. Why ? Because I know something will likely break if I do. I don't want anything cutting edge, just stable and usable. Really, I see no benefit to cutting edge ... only the instability it brings. Should probably install security updates tho.

This is exactly what I do too.

Second that motion as well :]

Thanks for all the replies, you all answered my questions.

I look forward to chatting in the future

RootPrompt

I used the method of trial-and-error (remove a few libs, try your most used apps, do a reboot) to see if everything works.

He he! I guess I'm a real slacker!

I used Slackpkg to update my system initially, but now I simply read the changelog for "stable" each week, download the packages, and install them by hand.

I find reading the changelog highly informative. Plus, the whole process doesn't take much longer than using Slackpkg since I'm reading the changelog anyway. :D

Regards,

-Drew