OTB just released a new video on Slackware15:

Slackware 15 - Installing Additional Software, DEs and WMs

Wonderful, I really enjoyed his previous videos focused on Slackware. Thank you for sharing!

Another gem - nice video OTB!

Thanks for supporting our community, OTB. Excellent video.

Thanks everyone. I just wanted to show that installation of additional packages really isn’t that difficult and doesn’t take very long, contrary to what so many of the critics always suggest - probably because none of them have actually used the distro

16 members found this post helpful.

Hi OTB,
Slackware is my daily driver (actually my only driver) on this, my personal laptop.

Having reached middle age (70 in April) and with advanced Parkinson's Disease making typing difficult I tend to take shortcuts. I know what I like and that is what I want to install. All Slackware packages I keep in a folder on my desktop. As things get updated I apply the updates and change the *.tgz that I keep, only keeping the latest ones.

When upgrading Slackware from an ISO I don't format my /home directory. Mistakes can happen so I keep backup for my /home directory just in case. Been doing this a long time and can configure Slackware with my eyes tied behind my back. To restore my favourite 3rd party programs I just navigate to the folder containing all the programs I like and use my right mouse button to click on a blank spot, choose "Open Terminal Here", su to root, and "installpkg *" and go make coffee. All the dust is settled by the time I return.

I used to try and get things all configured in one day but my wife suggested to only work with what comes to light. For instance, if I need to work with email then an email program will get my attention. Only concentrate on what I need and then it isn't such a daunting task.

Now, within the Slackware OS there are no unmet dependencies but with 3rd party programs it can be a much different story so my shortcut of choice is to use sboui for SBo programs as it can resolve dependencies, upgrade, and install as well as download and compile for me. A copy of any such programs is to be found in /tmp for me to drag and drop to the program folder on the desktop.

You know it looks like a lot to do but my routine has me look at the Changelog every day, keep up with the upgrades on -current, use sboui to check for installed SBo programs that are able to be upgraded and I have time to make these adjustments at the start and the end of each day (Pat Volkerding seems to never sleep and posts updates at the weirdest times). I am not a pro and do not have a bunch of computers to keep in sync so it doesn't take a whole lot of time. If my laptop blows up I can go to the basement boot up old reliable and continue on as if I was normal. A day or two and things look the same on my monitor.

Now, really except for the operating system all other steps are about the same for me.

I tend to look at another distro to see what it offers that I don't or can't have now with Slackware. Nothing out there attracts me so old and comfortable I stay.

12 members found this post helpful.

I identify with everything you posted, mate.
Slackware is akin to that black leather jacket that fits perfectly, even after years of wear. Slackware fits perfectly with my computing needs. I'm very comfortable with my operating system of choice. I'll be 65 this summer and life is good.

6 members found this post helpful.

Your wife is a wise lady: sounds like a good way to go through life.

There is a quote I like from General Creighton Abrams, "When eating an elephant take one bite at a time."

Gordie, I found your post about Slackware eloquent and heartfelt. I hope Mr Volkerding reads it because it is a wonderful review of his hard work.
For my part it was also good to read about how other people use Slackware.

5 members found this post helpful.

Great post Gordie. It’s about keeping things simple and getting into a routine. You comment that “ You know it looks like a lot to do but my routine has me look at the Changelog every day” sounds very familiar and its something I do as well

2 members found this post helpful.

I fully agree!
Having tried and seriously used quite a few distros, RPM based as well as D* and U* derivatives, I always found Slackware to be the one that takes the least effort over longer periods of usage, not despite of the package management w/o automatic dependency resolution, but probably because of it! Which is, what most reviewers just don't believe, because they don't use it long enough.

The only thing that I love almost as much is OpenSUSE. It's a great distro again, now, after going through a period with some more or less rough releases some years ago. Slackware never showed similar variations of quality between releases. That's why it has been my most trusted operating system for quite a few years, and still is.

gargamel

1 members found this post helpful.

You made me install Slackware.

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1 members found this post helpful.