Slackware vs. Debian?

hitest · 01-12-2008, 04:19 PM

Quote:

Debian by far is what you want. Listen, after years of distro hopping, I've found my home. You know what you want? You want a distro that works! And Debian is the one. Once you get your system up and running, then you can fart around with other distros just to see how they work and what they have to offer. But you should at least start off with an OS that works and Debian is the one.

Heh-heh, I really like Debian, but, you can say the same thing about Slackware. Slackware just works. Set it up and it is stable and reliable.

Quote:

Some will tell you that for learning Linux, Slackware is the one. Well, I for one will tell you that's it Debain. No matter what branch you pick.

Each to his own. I use both Slackware and Debian. Debian does indeed have good package management. Slackware does not check for dependencies, you are expected to be able to figure out dependency issues on your own. Slackware has less system overhead than a lot of other distros which results in a blazingly fast system. I don't really think you can say one is better than the other. They are quite different and are aimed at different types of Linux users. I say use both and choose the one you prefer:-)

Linuxant · 10-13-2021, 05:12 PM

I like Slackware concepts of simplicity, and the lack of handholding, I do not mind resolving dependencies manually, or configuration from the source code. The end results is a relatively light weight simple installation, that everything is a text file which I can modify. I prefer Sys-V-init to SystemD, and like the stability of Slackware, it also is centralised in its development which could make it more coherent than community based developments.

On the other hand, Debian is a respectable distro that is true to its values of freedom, and respects community. It is a very good distro.

However, I still prefer the simplicity (not ease) of Slackware. Once one said 'If you want to learn Debian, install Debian. If you want to learn Fedora, install Fedora. If you want to learn Linux, install Slackware.'

rokytnji · 10-13-2021, 05:48 PM

Just make sure your hardware can handle it. No inside stuff that is linux incomaptible cuz pure debian is different than ubuntu.
You will jump through hoops a little with proprietary hardware.

Code:

$ inxi -M
Machine:
  Type: Desktop System: Google product: Parrot v: 1.0 
  serial: <superuser required> in ther line
  Mobo: Google model: Parrot v: 1.0 serial: <superuser required> 
  BIOS: coreboot v: 4.0-6588-g4acd8ea-dirty date: 09/04/2014 
harry@biker:~
$ cat /etc/debian_version
10.10

I don't know how many threads over the years where someone wants to install a ubuntu repo into their debian install.

yancek · 10-14-2021, 05:51 AM

Linuxant. Apparently you didn't note the last post in this thread was over 13 years ago. The OP may not be checking this post any longer.

frankbell · 10-14-2021, 08:55 PM

My two favorite distros!

(Whoops! I didn't notice it was a necropost either.)

shevegen · 10-15-2021, 12:20 PM

Slackware is still one of my favourite distributions. GoboLinux was cooler but sadly the
two main devs got older (we all do) and maintaining a distribution these days is MUCH
harder than it was in 2004, for instance. Just look at the rise of LLVM, clang, mesa,
the whole KDE stack ... there is so much more complexity now.

You can reason a bit in favour of more complexity if it leads to better software, but
often the trade off is less than 1:1. Personally I much prefer when Linux as a whole
was simpler.

Nonetheless, slackware kind of keeps the oldschool feeling alive which is rare.

As for hardware: my experience was that support for hardware got a LOT better in the
last ~10 years or so. No idea why or who did this, but I can do, for instance, install
linuxmint (despite it using systemd), plug in some printer and scanner and I can just
print and scan. For most hardware that works fine. On windows I often have to install
stuff; in particular the hp software stack on windows is AWFUL. Cups/xsane is quite
simple to use really. (xsane could need an overhaul in the GUI but ok; simple-scan is
simple and works fine - IF it works).

"Necroposting" is fine if it adds to the oldschool feeling. People from 13 years ago
sharing their opinion!

mrapathy · 10-15-2021, 11:08 PM

Slackware and Debian are my 2 favorite distros. I really like slackbuilds but debians package manager is nicer.
slackware tends to be very stable though needs to get some things locked down and release version 15.

Try both and make a educated decision.

nycace36 · 12-08-2021, 12:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlocknBleed

My goal is to learn more about Linux.
I've been using Ubuntu for about 1.5 years and I'm still a useless n00b. As far as learning about Linux all signs point to Slack but I hear Debian has all the advantages of slack plus a package manager. I don't know that I'm patient enough to dink around with dependencies all day so is Debian the light at the end of the tunnel for me?

I agree and effectively carry out like those here who use both Slackware (now approaching its milestone full 15.0 release) AND Debian (11.x Bullseye as recent Stable).
Excellent dual-booting results

by installing Slackware first with its LILO boot management in a dedicated /boot, and then installing Debian alongside Slackware using GRUB boot management and same /boot.
Something similar to this as a basic partitioning layout:

/boot
swap
--Extended--
(empty)
Slackware /
Other Slackware /FHS-partition(s)
Debian /
Other Debian /FHS-partition(s)
BothDistros' /sharedpartition

Surprisingly, I actually kinda enjoy editing Slackware's LILO following its initial install and then effectively editing the /boot/grub.cfg to recognize and load both distros following the successful install of Debian.
Of course using Vim for all LILO and /boot/grub.cfg commandline text editing rather than nano or Emacs

hazel · 12-08-2021, 09:20 AM

I would happily recommend Debian to anyone who wants to move on from Ubuntu or Mint. I used it for years and by and large, I liked it. I'm happy with Slackware now but I wouldn't have wanted to use it ten years ago.

Debian is mainstream. It has no personal eccentricities, it's just Linux. Slackware is very much one unusual man's vision. The Debian package system is complex, which is why I eventually went off it. It does an amazing amount for you and seldom goes wrong, but when it does, it's a pig to fix.

Also Debian allows you to choose how near the bleeding edge you want to be as regards your software because it comes in three versions: stable, testing and unstable.