Greetings
When I'm delusional and feeling "leetist" my attitude reflects the one I have about Pop Culture - "I have to ask not only why should I care if many people like what I like but also acknowledge that often I
prefer smaller, in-the-know communities because they don't dilute the purity".... Then when I'm sane I remember that one of the most basic tenets of Linux and Open Source is
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Linus Torvalds via Eric S. Raymond
Given enough eyeballs, all bugs are shallow
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Without getting too deeply into the interplay, both conflict and compliance, between the need for many eyeballs and the parallel, but oft at odds, need for a somewhat single-minded vision to give any large project structure for coherence over chaos (and Patrick has certainly proven that, at the very least to Slackers) that the ultimate veto power of a single individual or at least a single, overriding concept is important because it clearly succeeds and succeeds clearly.
Simply put, we need both. We need a single vision to keep things concise and on a coherent and reliable track. However the fact remains, and over time even increases as that project grows larger and more complex, publicly, where perception is reality, we do need many eyeballs of a variety of expertise levels to communicate because
1) not Patrick, nor any one man, can do it all (even the kernel is over 10 times larger than when Slackware began)
2) Linux growth is not linear, it has a progression, a gathering of momentum
3) We approach an explosive burst stage of Linux in general and if Slackware is to be included at any percentage level of that positive growth, more users at many levels of expertise need to have access to and be influenced to join the Slackware Community - living things cannot stay static. They either grow or diminish. Slackware evolves. It is therefore something of a "living thing" requiring sustenance.
4) Ideally as the workload demand (and production and user base) increases, so should developers be able to expect increased compensation and not only in Pride of Accomplishment
5) Parallel to the increase in numbers of Linux users, there are also apparently forces at work of deep fundamental change such as the whole udev/systemd ilk (the so-called "init wars") that are forking if not fracturing Linux, creating stricter niches (much like what occurred in the music business circa 1980 to the present)
6) Because of these deep and alienating changes, deeper differences between distros, and more levels (especially on the "low end") of users considering and actually migrating to Linux, and also factoring in the the change in public perception (often, undeserved) the perspective changes upon which prospective users of what Slackware make their choice,
seems to me compelling forces to set the record straight, get the word out to more people of more levels (also implying the need for more people who can appeal to that level in "the native tongue") in a "publish or perish" environment.
If anyone doubts that public perception of Slackware has shifted from solid to stodgy I quote here a statement from a public forum, not by some Windows fanboy, but a dual-booter with considerable expertise in general and far more than mere casual interest and exposure from first hand experience with Linux. I believe the misconception comes simply from being relatively young and modern and exposed to the likes of Distrowatch for a summary of what Slackware is like.
If you are unfamiliar with what distrowatch says see it
Distrowatch on Slackware
Just one quote is
Quote:
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Originally Posted by distrowatch
with only a very limited number of custom utilities. It uses a simple, text-based system installer and a comparatively primitive package management system that does not resolve software dependencies....While this philosophy of simplicity has its fans, the fact is that in today's world, Slackware Linux is increasingly becoming a "core system" upon which new, custom solutions are built, rather than a complete distribution with a wide variety of supported software
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This may not be too far off the mark to Slackware users who know the value of such choices from experience, but means something altogether different to those not yet initiated, and who likely never will be, thinking they all ready get it. The below quote, mentioned above, displays what that perception has sunk to
Quote:
Oh come on.
Linux Mint isn't nearly as bad as Slackware or old Ubuntu (4 to 6).
Android has basically made Linux acceptable , it's a matter of time before it hits desktop.
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Is this the image we want? I found this "connection" appalling and demeaning but in marketplace politics as in governmental politics, it is apparently untrue that the high road gains respect, that wrestling with a pig just serves to lower one to that dirty level. It seems that misinformation, even scurrilous attacks, must be countered and "set straight" because only the "in crowd" even knows which is the high road and which is the pig.
To be clear
I don't want Slackware to change to appeal to more people. I want it simply to be recognized for what it truly is and lacking some PR department that crushes such misperceptions, why must we rely on such as Distrowatch for our public image? Where is "Our Voice"? a place where we can direct would-be's for a realistic overview?
I think an up-to-date SlackBook is a necessity of considerable if not crucial value to us all, lest Slackware head down that long, slow spiral and evaporate altogether in a decade or so. I don't know about you but from what I can see, I still want to be able to use Slackware 10 years and more from now.
However, as a humble simple user, could I ask if there is any sign of Slackbook 3.0 soon? (Yes, I know, I can git the current version... but an finished-ish eBook would be superb!)
