Learning Slackware takes time. Using easier distros you don't basically learn anything. If you have time, then get the packages and prepare to take over the world, it's easier then you might think.

Well, that's not completely true. I used FC4 and FC5 for same time, and although I learned somewhat less than I did while using Slackware, I did learn plenty, really almost just as much. Oh, as long as you don't use GUI all the time. I didn't. I liked to mess around on the command-line, install new stuff, etc.

Well, by easier distros I ment Ubuntu, Suse ect which tend to do everything for you and only let you click a couple of buttons. FC isn't such.

How much experience? You should be familiar with basic Linux/Unix concepts. Beyond that, you will learn everything in the process. You'll learn a lot more than with any other Linux distro.

Even though Slackware could be considered "advanced", it is very beginner-friendly. The Slackbook is the best piece of Linux documentation out there. I like TeXMeX's suggestion: go with the Slackbook.

Other documentation I would recommend: Running Linux, from O'Reilly, and the Gentoo Wiki. Even though much of their info is Gentoo-specific, most of it is not.

Slackware has a package system that only uses native Linux programs to install packages: installpkg is a wrapper that unpacks an archive and then runs a script. There's some programs similar to apt-get, but the important part is you don't necessarily need them. Hold the pickles hold the lettuce -- the most important thing is that with Slackware you do it your way (this can be good and bad and you'll learn along the way).


This is pretty frickin' easy. All you have to do is install them on different root partitions and then set up your boot loader correctly. That's a lot of fun and I would suggest consulting "Running Linux" for tips on how to do it (I think there's an entire chapter about it).

Gentoo is also good for learning, from what I've heard: I stopped searching after I found Slackware.

A great thing about Slackware is that you're well-versed in CLI once you get into it.

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Whenever I ask a Debian user how to do something they say "apt-get install" -- I don't consider that "knowing Linux."
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Joel

Hi,

You will learn a lot more using Slackware than any other distribution. Especially if you use the cli. Sure, turnkey systems are easier but maintained via hand holding. Yes, I am biased towards Slackware, is there anything better? In my mind no!

I still use M$ but only for a support reason. Billy shall not get more of me! Be it money or soul.

As for FC, that's your opinion. I really don't like it.

Slackware allows me to do what I want and when I want too.

The 12.0 RC2 is currently downloading. I've already used the current but let's see what rc2 is like. Not too much of a wait.

PV has been doing a lot of work lately. Slackware 12.0 release will be available before you know it.

I'm with the others in that it will teach you a lot....dunno if it'll teach you more than Gentoo as it goes a little deeper, but concepts from Slack could easily be applied to Gentoo if you ever wanna give it a try. But as for other distros, definitely. You'll basically learn just about everything. Other distros check for dependencies for you...not Slack, you'll have to find em out yourself. Automounting drives? Nope, you gotta do that yourself. And the countless other things you will learn. Really from a newbie point of view it can seem a little daunting, but it's truly isn't that bad to setup plus it can be highly rewarding in the end especially for becoming proficient with command line.

Hi,
I agree you will learn a lot using Slackware. I don't understand your statement about Gentoo. I really think the depth of use for either can be confusing for a new user. But the level of use for a Slackware system is easier if you are patient and prepare yourself by reading a lot of reference material. And willing to really snoop through something.

I'm missing something here! Your meaning?

Packages and other utilities like checkinstall do help you. Maybe you should try Slackware 12 RC2. Looks very promising!

Yes, as stated before the new user will have a task ahead using Slackware. But the results are worth the trouble and patience.

Agreed. When I started with Slackware 10.0 I found it difficult in the beginning, but I stuck with it.
Learning Slackware will give you a feeling of real satisfaction, accomplishment.
I love Slackware; I'm a Slacker for life!

Basically I mean that Gentoo goes deeper than Slackware. I don't have much experience with Gentoo but I have heard about it from others and it appears to be a little bit more indepth with compiling everything from source and so forth.


Comparing Slackware to other distros, then YES he will learn more.

As for dependencies, I usually don't fall into dependency issues that much, but when I do I let the app tell me what it needs. I do that by just opening the app via terminal.

Hi,

I'm missing something here! Your meaning?


This is the one in question.

Well if you're missing something you better find it.

Honestly, I'm confused as to why this is confusing you. All I am saying is that someone was mentioning how some other newbie based distros do the dirty work for you and hold your hand...Slackware doesn't do that b/c you usually have to configure things manually to your liking.

I haven't tried the Slackware 12 release candidates yet, but I guess I have installed and used all of the releases since 3.5 or thereabouts.

Today, I'd rate the difficulty of installing the current stable version of Slackware on "typical" PII and better hardware as about the same as installing MSDOS 6.x and Windows 3.1 beginning with an unformated hard drive. Not entirely "automagic," but nothing too difficult, either.

Now, that's for a basic system running KDE. Tweaking it for sound, best resolution, etc., is a bit more...but that's addressing OS capabilities far beyond anything you could get back in the Windows 3.x days.

I don't think so that Gentoo would go any 'deeper' than Slackware. Gentoo indeed compiles everything from source but it uses portage to do that and some of services are managed straight with small command line tools instead of directly editing the startup files. It requires a lot of manual tweaking but I'd think Slackware uses more of manual tweaking. In any case, both are fine distros.

True the Debian based distros (Ubuntu, Kubuntu, and Debian) now all have shiny GUIs, but you still can use the command line to install apps, run commands. I use a text editor to modify my sources.list in /etc/apt
Ubuntu is still Linux under the hood.

True, however my big disappointment with Ubuntu (besides the hardware problems) was the installer; I felt like there was little opportunity to customize. The installer just asked for some personalizing information and off we go! Maybe I missed something.

Many more experienced users (paradoxically in my view) enjoy this and consider it an advantage of Ubuntu. Of course, they're the people I mentioned before whose solution to everything is "apt-get install."

Slackware was totally customizable, and I found it quite "user-friendly" -- i.e., it avoided jargon and assumed I needed a few tips -- without sounding condescending. PCLinuxOS, my first install, was a good middle ground: it was graphical, and offered pointers here and there, and still let me customize the disk partitioning and many other important variables. The new PCLinuxOS installer offers the option of "custom" and "express." I think "express" is for all the people I met on their forum who considered short install time to be an advantage. I rarely install Linux

Joel