So you want to be a Slacker! What do I do next?

onebuck · 09-25-2010, 09:13 AM

Hi,

Do you have a low sound issue on the laptop?

You can try using a remedy by Alien_Bob: Adding an ALSA software pre-amp to fix low sound levels

Quote:

To add the software pre-amp system-wide you need to open the ALSA configuration file “/etc/asound.conf” in an editor (Slackware does not create that file by default, so you may have to edit a new file) and add the following definition to it (note that if you have multiple sound cards and the default is not “card 0” you may have to alter the definition a bit):

pcm.!default {
type plug
slave.pcm "softvol"
}

pcm.softvol {
type softvol
slave {
pcm "dmix"
}
control {
name "Pre-Amp"
card 0
}
min_dB -5.0
max_dB 20.0
resolution 6
}

If the Pre-amp control does not appear in your mixer window, you may have to replace the line that says:

type plug

with this line:

type hw

I received a report that the default block of code does not always work. Changing “plug” to “hw” may be necessary with some laptops.
Then, save the file and reboot your computer (you could also try running “/etc/rc.d/rc.alsa restart” but I can not guarantee that that will re-initialize ALSA correctly).

On my Dell 1501 all I had to do was change to 'type hw' and use the '/etc/rc.d/rc.alsa restart'. I did use 'alsamixer' to setup pcm level then do a 'alsactl store' before 'startx'. By chance I did try setting the 'alsamixer' while viewing the 'Kmix 3.6' mixer. Some lag that was noticeable when setting 'pcm' within the terminal 'alsamixer'. Not a problem just to note.

I'll setup on the other laptops later. ??

onebuck · 10-02-2010, 08:22 AM

Hi,

If you happen to use FireFox and wish to tweak a bit then look at 'Tweaking Firefox' thread originated by H_TeXMeX_H and contributions by other knowledgeable LQ members. This thread has a lot of content to help you tweak the browser.

onebuck · 10-12-2010, 07:40 PM

Hi,

What a slacker learned from building Linux from Scratch.. is a good thread read and a potential project if you really want to learn intrinsic points of Slack by building a system. Sure, this is from LFS (Linux From Scratch Book 6.7) perspective. Hopefully that thread will lead to more Slackware forum member involvement.

You could also look at Beyond Linux from Scratch (BLFS) project which continues where the Linux From Scratch book finishes. The BLFS book introduces and guides the reader through additions to the system including networking, graphical interfaces, sound support, along with printer and scanner support.

Alien_Bob used Cross Linux From Scratch to bootstrap Slackware64 on a 32-bit Slackware during development. I hope Eric will share the experience(s) with us.

onebuck · 10-15-2010, 09:05 AM

Hi,

LibreOffice is a current Slackware forum thread that is informational.

OpenOffice & LibreOffice are two Open Source Projects that most Slackware users are aware of but should decide for themselves which to follow or choose.

From OpenOffice wiki;

Quote:

Create a User Interface so that OpenOffice.org becomes the users' choice not only out of need, but also out of desire"

Project Renaissance is a current project status for OO.

The Document Foundation & LibreOffice announcement;

Quote:

A group of OpenOffice.org developers has announced the creation of an independent foundation - called the Document Foundation - to guide the further development of the office suite, which is provisionally named LibreOffice.

Good article to check out: 'Michael Meeks talks about LibreOffice and the Document Foundation'

onebuck · 10-18-2010, 08:06 PM

Hi,

For those that want to tweak FireFox: tweaking the **** out of firefox 3 would be the place to look.

H_TeXMeX_H has done a real good job along with other contributors.

onebuck · 10-26-2010, 08:27 AM

Hi,

Two week old news, but if you need the new 'flashplayer browser plugin'.

Alien_Bob has created Slackware packages for the flashplayer (32-bit & 64-bit), you can grab these at http://slackware.com/~alien/slackbuilds/flashplayer-plugin/. The packages install the plugin into the generic mozilla plugins directory so all mozilla based browsers will be able to use it.

onebuck · 10-28-2010, 09:55 AM

Hi,

My TODO list is sooo big!

I just now installed LibreOffice from Alien_Bob's new server;

Grab the packages here: http://slackware.com/~alien/slackbuilds/libreoffice/ or use his fast mirror at http://taper.alienbase.nl/mirrors/pe...s/libreoffice/

I'm impressed!

Clean, crisp and fast.

onebuck · 10-30-2010, 11:09 AM

Hi,

Slackware users have had several security warnings for Mozilla-Firefox. Most recent;

Quote:

2010-10-28 - [slackware-security] mozilla-firefox (SSA:2010-301-02)
From: Slackware Security Team <security@slackware.com>
To: slackware-security@slackware.com
Subject: [slackware-security] mozilla-firefox (SSA:2010-301-02)
Date: Thu, 28 Oct 2010 21:50:15 -0700 (PDT) -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
Hash: SHA1

[slackware-security] mozilla-firefox (SSA:2010-301-02)

New mozilla-firefox packages are available for Slackware 13.0, 13.1,
and -current to fix security issues.
Here are the details from the Slackware 13.1 ChangeLog:
+--------------------------+
patches/packages/mozilla-firefox-3.6.12-i686-1.txz: Upgraded.
This fixes some security issues.
For more information, see:
http://www.mozilla.org/security/know...firefox36.html
(* Security fix *)
+--------------------------+
Where to find the new packages:
+-----------------------------+
HINT: Getting slow download speeds from ftp.slackware.com?
Give slackware.osuosl.org a try. This is another primary FTP site
for Slackware that can be considerably faster than downloading
directly from ftp.slackware.com.

Thanks to the friendly folks at the OSU Open Source Lab
(http://osuosl.org) for donating additional FTP and rsync hosting
to the Slackware project! :-)

Also see the "Get Slack" section on http://slackware.com for
additional mirror sites near you.

Code:

packages;

Updated package for Slackware 13.0:
ftp://ftp.slackware.com/pub/slackware/slackware-13.0/patches/packages/mozilla-firefox-3.6.12-i686-1.txz

Updated package for Slackware x86_64 13.0:
ftp://ftp.slackware.com/pub/slackware/slackware64-13.0/patches/packages/mozilla-firefox-3.6.12-x86_64-1_slack13.0.txz

Updated package for Slackware 13.1:
ftp://ftp.slackware.com/pub/slackware/slackware-13.1/patches/packages/mozilla-firefox-3.6.12-i686-1.txz

Updated package for Slackware x86_64 13.1:
ftp://ftp.slackware.com/pub/slackware/slackware64-13.1/patches/packages/mozilla-firefox-3.6.12-x86_64-1_slack13.1.txz

Updated package for Slackware -current:
ftp://ftp.slackware.com/pub/slackware/slackware-current/slackware/xap/mozilla-firefox-3.6.12-i686-1.txz

Updated package for Slackware x86_64 -current:
ftp://ftp.slackware.com/pub/slackware/slackware64-current/slackware64/xap/mozilla-firefox-3.6.12-x86_64-1.txz


MD5 signatures:
+-------------+

Slackware 13.0 package:
d6a293bd8312fb3d4da8a8bc77bf2b23  mozilla-firefox-3.6.12-i686-1.txz

Slackware x86_64 13.0 package:
4f868d3190f57499f25377b7a0c5cee5  mozilla-firefox-3.6.12-x86_64-1_slack13.0.txz

Slackware 13.1 package:
d6a293bd8312fb3d4da8a8bc77bf2b23  mozilla-firefox-3.6.12-i686-1.txz

Slackware x86_64 13.1 package:
3ab002e951f69f8001447d0f4de2c534  mozilla-firefox-3.6.12-x86_64-1_slack13.1.txz

Slackware -current package:
d6a293bd8312fb3d4da8a8bc77bf2b23  mozilla-firefox-3.6.12-i686-1.txz

Slackware x86_64 -current package:
cca9cbb9ae625c7a7045fcc39852650b  mozilla-firefox-3.6.12-x86_64-1.txz

Installation instructions:
+------------------------+

Upgrade the package as root:
# upgradepkg mozilla-firefox-3.6.12-i686-1.txz

+-----+

Slackware Linux Security Team
http://slackware.com/gpg-key
security@slackware.com

Just download the proper package for your install, Then get the 'md5' hash to check the package file. Follow the above 'Installation instructions'.

I see no problems to date with my new FireFox-3.6.12.

onebuck · 10-30-2010, 11:31 AM

Hi,

While your at it;

Quote:

flashplayer-plugin: flashplayer-plugin (flash plugin for web browsers)
flashplayer-plugin:
flashplayer-plugin: Provides Adobe Flash plugin for browsers that recognize
flashplayer-plugin: /usr/lib/mozilla/plugins as a valid plugin directory
flashplayer-plugin:
flashplayer-plugin: Plugin is subject to Adobe terms of use:
flashplayer-plugin: http://www.adobe.com/go/labs_term_of_use
flashplayer-plugin:
flashplayer-plugin: Plugin is subject to Adobe Flash EULA:
flashplayer-plugin:

http://labs.adobe.com/technologies/e...ashplayer.html

flashplayer-plugin/ contents;

README
build/
pkg/
pkg64/

Easy install!

EDIT: You can;

Quote:

To verify the Adobe Flash Player version number running on your system, access the About Flash Player page, or right-click on the Flash content and then select “About Adobe Flash Player” from the menu.

onebuck · 11-03-2010, 04:07 PM

Hi,

I've noticed a lot of new users are showing interest in SlackBuilds Packages.
Some are having problems that would not occur if they would follow these instructions: SlackBuild Usage HOWTO.

If you should want to create a SlackBuild then what Alien_Bob posted should make things easier;

Quote:

from Alien_Bob #13;

Play around a bit with my interactive SlackBuild creator at http://slackware.com/~alien/AST . See what the results are when selecting each of the templates "web" (my own rich template) "sbo" (the http://SlackBuilds.org template) or "bare" (template for a SlackBuild script that stays closest to an original Slackware script).

By changing the parameters of the webform and looking at the results you will get an idea of how a SlackBuild is constructed from parts with well-defined functionality.

Eric

onebuck · 11-15-2010, 09:08 AM

Hi,

Quote:

Current (pre-release) ChangeLog for x86 (32-bit)
Sun Nov 14 23:58:42 UTC 2010
Lots of updates, including a major X overhaul!
Thanks to Robby Workman for a ton of help here.

Wow! Two week wait was sure worth it.

onebuck · 12-10-2010, 04:05 PM

Hi,

'New tutorials for installing and configuring Slack ' is a thread for a great tutorial: http://genek.net/LinuxAdventures/ins...allation1.html by 2handband. I recommend that all should look at this new tutorial for Slackware. Great for everyone!

Newbies will learn a lot by following the sections within. As for the experienced users, it's a good place for us to recommend corrections or suggest areas that concern you. I for one participate with 2handband on subjects that I'm interested in: Slackware! Several other members have participated. 2handband doesn't bite to hard.

Always room for improvement!
So give it a read.

"Knowledge is of two kinds. We Know a subject ourselves, or we know where we can find information upon it."- Samuel Johnson

EDIT: http://genek.net/LinuxAdventures/sysadmin/index.html is new link for tutorial for now.