I'm not referring to its stability as an OS, but rather is it stable in the sense that it will continue to be updated and available to users for a long time?

I ask only because I read an article at NewsForge.com saying that some of the various distros may soon be no more because so many of the really big Linux distributors are suddenly aiming for the computer desktop. One of the readers commented that several distros had vanished already, and that he thinks Slackware will be the next to fall.

He probably hasn't a clue what he's talking about, but seeing as how I'm an avid Slack user, I'd like to continue with it far into the future. Does anyone know if the Slackware user-base is growing larger, or is it declining?

Hopefully, Patrick V. will never tire of working on it but if he should, would someone else take over, or would it go the the Slack graveyard? It was disappointing to see the 'Official Slackware Forum' closed, but I'm really glad you guys have stepped in to take up the Slack.

Yeah, that guy had no idea what he's talking about like you thought. I think I read an article recently, can't remember off of what that was titled something like: "Slackware, the Linux distrobution that is always in the black"

With 2 employees, no shareholders, no release schedule, and at least a few hundred thousand loyal users; how can Slackware ever really die? Unless Patrick just gets sick of working on it, but from nearly a decade now worth of changelogs, I don't really see that happening any time soon. By comparison Mandrake has a few hundred employees, is traded publicly, has to release at least twice a year to keep up volume, and is only... 3 years old.

Cheers,

Finegan

The article was on theAge . As far as commercial Distros go I would have to say Slack is one of the most likely to succeed... in it's targeted market. Slackware will never be the most widely used or be the corporate poster child of Linux. It is targeted towards users/administrators who want total control over the system, sans layers of programming to make their job "easier." Due to the size of Slack's staff (2) and the number of users who subscribe to Slack releases, it seems to have a very level headed approach. It is not likely to become huge, but it is not likely to fail either.

Finally if the worst should happen or Patrick V. decided to abandon Linux, Slackware will likely live on. Maybe not under the Slackware name, but in some form. Slackware fills a niche that enough people want that it will need to be filled. Slack is not so complex that it takes a large team to perpetuate, a small team of talented fanatics could keep on the Slack tradition. As well as Patrick? Who knows, I for one hope I don't have to find out.

Hey guys, thanks for your replies.

I took a look at the link provided by Mephisto and pulled this quote from it:

That's more Slack users than I thought there were and I find that number very reassuring. It's my understanding that Slack is the longest surviving Linux distro ever and I'd sure like to keep it that way.

Thanks again to each of you for your comments.