Switching to Slack
 

I'm currently using Debian, but I'm definitely considering switching to Slackware and I'm looking for a darn good reason (or reasons) to do so.

Debian is an excellent distribution, don't get me wrong, but I would very much like to see what all the fuss about Slackware is, I just need a little convincing to do it.

I've fallen under the impression Gentoo and Slackware share a lot in common (more than likely, wrongfully so). Everything is hand-done (edited) which is an idea I kind of like, but what turned me off of Gentoo is how long it took to install anything, including the distribution itself.

What's the biggest benefit I could get out of switching to Slackware from Debian?

I'm an Etch user and a die-hard Slack user. I actually like both distros very much. They each have their strengths.
Slackware is robust and stable as hell. Once you set-up Slack it'll run as long as you need it to. Slackware out of the box is faster than Debian. I run Slack 12 on my main work station at home a Plll 800 IBM with 768 MB of RAM. I'm using XFce and the JFS, my unit runs lean and mean. Like Debian you can install pre-built packages or compile your own packages from source in Slackware.
Slackware is worth a look.

do you need any more than curiosity? If so maybe slack isn't for you :D (thats a joke)

IMHO you would be best served by making a smallish partition somewhere then installing slack and giving it a go. its impossible to tell if you'll like it at all let alone better than your current (debian) distro.

I've tried all the major distros at some point or other but continue to come back to slackware, and I'm sure at least part of that is familiarity - slack is what I started with.

I think that happens to a lot of people (first love sort of thing) so I would recommend using an extra partition (or making one with something like gparted) and trying it for yourself.

Just to say, this isn't true of Slackware :).

i would have to say that slackware is truly nice. i do have to admit that since i am a newbie, sometimes life is harder than say using ubuntu, but i make up for that with a truly enriching experience - full of knowledge.
i would recommend it without a doubt.
cheers :)

Thanks for all of your responses.

When I posted this, I had started downloading the Slackware DVD and everything that you have all said make me impatient for the Slack DVD torrent to finish.

I will definitely reply with my opinions on Slack once I get it up and running.

:D

Also, before I start installing Slack, how essential is it to have the SlackBook right next to me? The Gentoo handbook stayed at my side because NOTHING was automated. I was reading the first two or three chapters of the Slackbook and noticed that it had an installer very similar in appearance to FreeBSD's. I managed to get FreeBSD installed successfully without a guide, would Slack fare the same?

Good! I liked Gentoo all except for that it took me about an hour and a half to compile Xorg, and then, well, let's just say after four hours I Ctrl-C'ed out of the Firefox compilation.

Slackware is a place to really get to know your system. You install just what you need, then you can wander around the filesystem figuring out what goes where... and you don't have eleventy billion installed programs to wrestle with.

It also makes a great base system for building it to be exactly what you want. I read a very enjoyable piece entitled "If Operating Systems ran the airlines" at http://www.zyra.org.uk/os-air.htm

To quote it: When I read that, I immediately thought of Slackware.

EDIT: As far as having the Slackbook available, no real need. Have it somewhere you can reference it, certainly, but don't pay somebody to print it out for you.

Haha, love it! :D

Fair enough.

The curses based installation in Slackware does indeed look and behave very similar to Sysinstall in FreeBSD. You should have no problem with it. Slack has fdisk, cfdisk for partitioning, it is straight-forward.
Edit: Added later......do read the sticky at the top of the forum about HAL.

Hi,

I really like my Slackware! Slack On!

You will find Slackware a real learning experience for Linux.

You can reference 'Slackware-Links' which was compiled from 'Slackware LQ Suggestions Links!' for some good reference. Books, guides and a buffet of links related to Slackware or Linux.

The experience of learning a new way of doing things.

You'll be able to answer your own questions after you've "been there and done it."

Enjoy! ;)

Asides from apt-get automagic over slackbuild's complete control, different ways to handle init files (rc.d...), and many less packages for slackware (so you can build them RIGHT :D )

I'd say it's like choosing between politics and religion, it all boils down to raving lunatics shouting the same freaking reasons for why their choice is best.

BTW, I have little to no experience with debian type distros except with the *buntus...

Don't get me wrong, I love Slack and am not considering switching, but I do think this is a bit misleading. Unless you have done a lot a research and know exactly what you need (including dependencies) then it is not straight-forward in Slack to do a minimal install.

Brian

imho "newbie mode" if you have the patience is pretty straightforward.

one thing I _do_ wish slack had was a sort of "base system" install, just enough to get to CLI + X and maybe a WM.

or an application type install menu. that would be nice. I'm thinking of trying out a zenwalk install or something because I don't want all the great packages of stuff I never use lying around.

but its still pretty easy to 'removepkg' after install too.