So KDE went modular. Xorg is modular. XFCE is modular or at least the scaring list of dependencies for 4.8 makes it modular. Maintaining several thousands of packages is not an "one man show". I know what I am talking about. I used to compile my Linux from source for several years and went back to Slackware when Xorg became modular.

Dropping KDE is not an option. Even I am not using it I install Alien's packages from time to time to check it out. And I have to say it improves at a very fast pace.

So IMHO the options are not so much. Slackware can't stay an all purpose distribution. At best Pat can keep the essential server stuff and drop everything that is not needed by KDE (like GTK and console programs).

What do you think...

What do I think?

I think Pat knows what he's doing.

2 members found this post helpful.

I think perhaps the conjecture has been beaten to death in this thread and the only thing left to do is to wait and see what *actually* happens. We can all waste our time rehashing that thread expanded to cover Xorg and Xfce, but in the end the debate has been had, there is little we can do as mere users, and I don't see the point in effectively recreating a discussion that just happened within 10 days. Your post has no *real* insight; you abandoned your LFS project because it became too burdensome, while Pat 'found a way'. He has literally been doing this longer than anyone else on the planet and if anybody can find a way again it is him. If not, well, then we'll have to move on, but of course that could be said (and has been said, over the years) at any time regarding any major change in the free software world as it pertains to GNU/Linux. And yet somehow Pat has maintained his state of employment thus far...

5 members found this post helpful.

Slackware is the oldest surviving distro because Mr. Volkerding is at the helm. I don't really see the point of being an arm chair quarter back and predicting doom and gloom. I completely trust PV's judgement; he consistently makes the right choices for Slackware. Slackware is very well-respected because of Patrick Volkerding. Also, we have the best development team in the business; the Slackware team is amazing!