Ok, fine, let's all e-mail him and tell him not to remove Slackware, with enough people doing this he may not remove it. Who knows, it's worth a try.

EDIT: I just e-mailed him, will tell you if I get a response.

You sure about that? I love Slackware as much as the next 'slacker', however I don't want Slackware to become the next Debian. By that I mean, Ubuntu brought a lot of people to Linux, which led to a lot of them converting to Debian. I'm not saying Slackware is the next logical move, I'm just saying it could happen. Slackware doesn't need these users (no offense to Ubuntu or Debian users; most likely if you are reading this, I'm not referring to you)

Although some might not agree, I take the same position with Slackware, that the OpenBSD developers have taken with their product. I don't want you to use it, because I use it. I don't want to 'convert' you. Slackware doesn't need even more people coming in and saying how Slackware should change. If Slackware fits your needs use it, enjoy it. Otherwise feel free not to use it.

Just my

Indeed, this is the reason that changed my mind.

Slackware lives as long as Pat V has an income. Thus, it will live as long as it has a user base that donates. The larger the user base the more donations there will be. Therefore, I think it's worth it to send him an e-mail. It doesn't take a lot, and I say we have to fight for it at every turn because fighting later on will be harder if we do not fight now. (This applies for many things)

Either way Slackware will never be the most popular distro, but then this is not the goal. The goal is to maintain choice. Choice is what GNU/Linux is about. If Slackware disappears, the choices become much more limited, because Slackware is unique and does fit a niche, or rather creates it ?

How exactly is getting this magazine to continue giving out Slackware DVDs going to help Pat? Wouldn't that be taking money away from him? If a person can get an issue of this magazine for $15 that includes the Slackware 12.2 DVD, why would that person then go to the Slackware store and pay $60 for the same thing? In the mind of a new Linux user, $45 seems an awful lot to pay for the Slackware logo on the box.

Slackware's income aside, I think the topic creator is vastly overestimating the importance of print magazine's in the 21st century; especially ones that deal with something as volatile and rapidly changing as the open source community. A new user is infinitely more likely to find out information online then by purchasing a magazine.

It would benefit the Slackware community much more to help new users out here on LQ then it ever would to try and convince the publishers of a fringe magazine to keep giving away install discs for your distribution of choice. LQ and other sites like it are the real reason that Slackware and open source in general survives, the desire to help others out and share information with anyone who is interested in it. OSS will not be made or broken by print media.

Don't get me wrong, I think that exposure is always good and the more people aware of Slackware the better. But to think that this magazine has anything to do with Slackware's continued development is just silly. If they keep Slackware on the disc then that is great, but if not, it really isn't a concern.

Plus, let's not be too greedy here. There are many distributions and open source projects that deserve some time in the limelight. Is it really that wrong if another distribution is given some free publicity for awhile in place of Slackware? Shouldn't the content revolve and give everyone equal exposure, rather than just sticking with the same (updated) software every issue?

Yes - got to agree with that. I've just sent an Email hopefully pointing at the mistake of not including Slackware in future. I recommend anyone using Slackware to do likewise.

Well, technically, the new Linux users that it target never intended to pay Pat V any money anyway. You can download Slackware for free, so no money is lost by distributing it via magazine. User base is what is important here. More exposure = more users = more potential donations = Slackware moves on and maybe even improves.

I've read that passage a few times, and still can't make any sense of it. How can including Slackware on a magazine's DVD turn it into Debian, and why should Ubuntuers turning into Debianites influence Slackware? You say that Slackware doesn't need "these users". Why not? Do you think they're inferior in some way? Would it make you personally feel less special if Slackware had more users?

Yes - and lookig at ABC distribution figures that means there are a possible 25.000 new users exposed to Slackware each month - surely not to be sniffed at.

Update - Just had a reply to my Email from Mike telling me to keep a look out for episode 116 DVD - presumably this will include Slackware. So we may be getting new users that hopefully will end up subscribing.

I just got a reply also, and he is looking at including some extra software like src2pkg and sbopkg.

samac

I subscribe to linux format and although it's biased towards ubuntu/gnome and other popular distros (and that's fine as they are popular and the mag has to sell!) I still enjoy leafing through it on the train or in the bath etc. Don't often use the DVDs though.

I think we should ask Mike to keep it on the DVD. If mags/cover-DVDs are really irrelevant, then no harm done - if they are still helping to publicise slackware, then more slackers... Personally I believe the latter.

It's good of him to ask us - he could've just dropped it.

Andrew

Agreed. I just sent an e-mail to Mike as well.

It's an interesting discussion.

My view is that you can come to Slackware too soon in your Linux career. For anyone very new to linux distributions, all the things Slackware doesn't have can seem like an insurmountable failing. It's only with experience that you come to realise that not having these things is actually one of its strengths. First impressions stick, better for people to come to Slackware when they're ready to appreciate it and will stay with it, rather than to try it too early, get the wrong impression stuck in their heads, leave and never come back.

Don't forget, Slackware is a commercial project. If Pat believes he needs to market his product then I'm sure he will. Sitting here on sites like LQ, being the helpful, knowledgeable and friendly bunch that we are will do far more for Slackware uptake than any rabid Evangelical "Shout it from the Mountains" nonsense. Let people discover it for themselves when the time is right.

I really doubt that inclusion on the Linux Format Cover disk would help.

Of course!

All kidding aside, I realize Pat would never really allow what I'm saying to happen and by Slackware's nature it couldn't actually happen (meaning this isn't a community project like Debian is, Pat will always have the final say). Maybe I'm being a bit of an elitist, but imho Slackware is the best distro.

Yes, more quality users is great for Slackware, but I don't think we need to be 'shouting' about Slackware being so great. I don't want to keep Slackware a secret, just not 'shouting' about it.

I agree, we don't need to shout about how great Slackware is - it speaks for itself. Having it given away on DVDs by magazines gives more people the chance to try it for themselves. And having more users would not necessarily mean changing Slackware in any way, as there are plenty of Slackers ready to resist that. As I said in another thread, amongst the hundreds of available distros there are just a few that are unique - Slackware is one of them, and should remain so.

Yup, I got that too, if I may, here's what he said:

Now I feel much better