From the Current Changelog:

Tue Dec 2 23:34:03 CST 2008

While there are still some docs that need updating and probably a few more tweaks and updates here and there, everything is mostly in place for the next stable release, Slackware 12.2. The versions of major components like X and the kernel can be considered frozen. Anything major that we haven't done yet will probably wait for the release after this next one. As Slackware 12.2 is only a 0.1 version bump, we're trying to focus on making it better without causing instability or losing compatibility with Slackware 12.1 wherever possible. Invasive changes like the new X (that will require changes to xorg.conf) and merging KDE4 should probably wait for Slackware 13.0. We will call this batch Slackware 12.2 release candidate one. :-)

ftp://ftp.slackware.com/pub/slackwar.../ChangeLog.txt

Think I'll wait for 13 - I'm not superstitious.

Yeah, I say that now but I usually give in to curiosity. 12.1 has been rock solid for me. We'll see what happens.

I'm the adventurous type, so I already upgraded my -current testing machine to 12.2-RC1
No problems until now.

I'm finicky about my slackware versions. Really choosy.

The PC I installed just after Slackware 9.1 is still running Slackware 9.1.
The PC I installed just after Slackware 10.0 is still running Slackware 10.0.
The PC I installed just after Slackware 12.0 is still running Slackware 12.0 (with some 10.0 and 11.0 packages from linuxpackages.net).
The PC I installed just after Slackware 12.1 is still running Slackware 12.1 (with some 11.0 and 12.0 packages from linuxpackages.net).

Maybe I'm just weird but even with the newest hardware, Slackware works pretty much the same for everything. The worst that happens is that I have to recompile a kernel or two but I normally do that as part of my normal Slackware install routine anyway, because it's guaranteed that there'll be a new stable kernel released about a week after a new, stable Slackware.

In fact, my usual routine when I need a new Slack install is:

Download latest stable Slackware
Install Full
Copy over and install all my custom firewall and cron scripts etc.
Download latest stable kernel
Install
Download latest available packages for my common software
Install
Download or otherwise acquire latest slacktrack.
Install.
Tweak xorg.conf relevant to that PC (if not building a blackbox server).
Check with startx.
Set to runlevel 4.
Setup to do its job and forget about it.

I would like to see KDE4 make it into Slackware "officially" but I'm in no rush for it. The servers, workstations and laptops that I install Slackware onto on a regular basis for work and personal use won't benefit any from KDE4.

It's one of the beauties of Slackware, and why I like to use it... consistency. Things pretty much stay the same. Changes come in small, discrete, well-announced steps and on the whole don't affect anything. I don't even notice the slackware version if I log onto a machine. Normally, if I need to do a package upgrade or something, I have to cat /etc/slackware-version in order to work out what version of the package I need. Other than that, I barely even notice any difference.

My brother is running a router/firewall/server that I built on Slackware 9.0, there's a server in a school running 11.0, my new desktop has 12.1, but I happily flip in and out of all three remotely and don't even notice a difference. Up until I replaced my brother's router two years back, it was runnning on a mix of Freesco and Slackware 3.9. It still protected the entire network from all sorts, though, 24 hours a day for years, ran file shares, intranets, RAID storage, X-Windows as an emergency backup etc.

My -current testing machine was originally 10.0 and has followed all updates since then without reinstalling.
I enjoy following the -current branch on it, and of course once in a while something stops working. But this is where I learn new things, discover how components interact, etc.

The other machines I maintain (mine and for several friends) all run the stable branches of 12.0 or 12.1
I still have an old 486 laptop running 4.0 as well

Lately following -current has been a bit dull... everything keeps working without problems...

I note in this changelog that wicd has been added into extra. Congrats rob workman!

Andrew

Hi,

I'll wait and see! When the stable is released then a little bit of hdd will be allocated to test her out. I know that PV and team will provide us with a good experience.

i thought i read a few weeks ago that kde4 was in the newest slackware-current...?

It is in testing.

Cool. I will be installing 12.2 when released:-) Many thanks to PV and the Slackware team!!!

To all those that can afford it
Lets not forget to support Pat with a purchase or subscription

Thanks
John

I definitely will. I had a subscription in the 3.x / 4.x days and promised myself to get a subscription again with the next version. Just waiting for 12.2 to be released officially (but I will not wait for the DVD to install it )

I hope that Pat doesn't forget to upgrade jfsutils since a new version from sourceforge is already out. Thats my only concern right now.

Yeah, I have the official shiny jeweled case of Slackware 12.1:-) I will be buying 12.2 or I'll use bittorrent and make a good donation at the Slackware store.