Well, if you're like REALLY new to Slackware, then it is slightly different from other distros, but not all that much.
There are 3 programs you can use:
1. wpa_gui
This one comes with Slackware but only does wireless connections. For me this didn't work, but I don't think Slack would have included it if it didn't work, so don't dismiss it as an option.
2. wicd
This one is in the /extras section of the Slackware CD. Unfortunately this one didn't work for me either but like I said previously, there's no reason to have it if it doesn't work.
3. NetworkManager
This one was the worst one to get, but it worked for me (although I haven't been able to figure out how to start it automatically, which I suppose is a good thing for other people at my College who might try to use my computer). NetworkManager, if I recall correctly, also comes with Ubuntu pre-installed. For Slackware though, you have to build all of it's dependencies, and some of those dependencies have dependencies of their own. So you'll have to install a lot, but it worked for me.
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As for installing programs in Slackware, what you want to do is get the .txz file, which for some programs (e.g. Mozilla Firefox, VLC Media Player, etc.) can be directly downloaded from their website. If you do have it, all you have to do is:
1. Open a terminal
2. Type "su -" and then proceed to type in the password for the root user.
3. Go to the directory that contains the .txz file by typing "cd /the/path/to/the/txz/file"
4. "installpkg TheProgram_SBo.txz"
Not all programs have the .txz file for you just like that, and SlackBuilds.org, a common website for programs on Slackware, does not have them that easily.
If you're going to go with the SlackBuilds.org route, then you'll have to download 2 files:
1. The Source file (sometimes there's a 32-bit and 64-bit version, pick the correct one for your operating system).
2. The tar.gz file.
Find out where you downloaded them to, and extract the tar.gz file (right click, "Archive To Here") although some of us recommend getting a new folder to put all of this in, and it's usually titled
src, so mine, personally is: /home/konphine/src/. Move both the source file and the tar.gz file into the new folder you got after extracting.
Then, in a terminal:
Quote:
su -
*password for root user*
cd /path/to/the/new/folder (e.g. mine would be /home/konphine/src/TheExtractedProgramsFile)
./ *Press the tab key after the "./"*
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Let it compile.
Then, when it's done (successfully) it should say it's in root's /tmp folder, and I would recommend moving it out of there since /tmp is for temporary files. After that, wherever you moved it to, go back to terminal and type:
Quote:
cd /path/to/the/new/txz/file
installpkg TitleOfTheTXZFile.txz
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It should be done in less than 15 seconds.
Quick note: If the program that you want to install requires dependencies, you'll have to do this process for each of the dependencies in order for to be able to compile the program that uses the respective dependency.
There was another website, something like slackpackages or something of that sort that makes it much easier, but I personally prefer SlackBuilds.org.
