The only reason I can think of is lack of userbase ... which is likely now that they offer virtually the same product.

I think the better solution would be package repositories and support. BW64 was always focused on corporate support for 64bit slack derivative. There is still a need for this. Slamd64 could hold a good supply of multilib things or support older things like kde 3.5

Part of the problem (at least part of the problem that I've had concerns with over the last decade), is that Slackware will someday die out. I think we all remember the panic when Patrick was traveling around seeking a definitive diagnosis for his ailments a couple of years back, for example.

I'm all for Slack-derivatives, yet they must distinguish themselves from the main Slackware distribution to foster a userbase or attack a certain market to be viable and show up prominently in the various distrowatches (sic) out there - IMNSHO, this is important for the brand awareness of Slackware.

For example, how many distros are RPM based? That keeps Redhat in the forefront of the casual and non-Linux user's vocabularies.

For those of us who love, plug, use, and promote Slackware, a Plethora of Slackware derivatives is a good thing, although to be viable in the marketplace (er, visible, rather?) they do need to distinguish themselves as [much] more than mere *near clones* of Slackware. This popularizes the Slackware packaging system, as well as update systems likes Swaret and the various package support sites - this can only offer us more in availability and robustness in the Slack-based communities.

As most of us have wondered over the years, Slackwares "spartan" website, lack of officially supported/hosted forums, and minimal marketing announcements have left the community itself (And I think this is by design) to promote and popularize the product.

In a world where marketing firms and advertising execs think they rule the roost, Slackware has consistently remained a pariah, existing and thriving against all commercial ideals, yet when a Linux n00b, or portential adopter of Linux asks the qeustion, "Which distribution should I use?", There's a swarm of reasons for them to think that Redhat or SUSE or others is the "Best" (instead of merely different, as we know) way to go.

I completely abandoned the Redhat camp after 5.2, and with the introduction of 6.0/6.1/6.2, Compaq was shipping brand new Proliants with free copies of Redhat - Patrick has never, to my knowledge, done this, nor has he commanded the resources to pay for someone to make that happen.

That's why altruists and purists often get swept under the carpet. It's why some people say, "Slackware. Isn't that for hobbiests?", or "Slackware, what's that?".

When people ask 'which distro', I almost invariably say "Slackware", and provide a link to the store and a link to the Slackware iso page here on LQ. Almost always, people ask those follow up questions and say, what about ooboontoo or Redhat?

With a dozen uniquely, and suffiently distingquished Slackware-derived/based distros prominently promoting their product, and the desctiption for each of those distros including, "A distribution based on Slackware Linux", my feelings are that the the commonality of the word *Slackware*, in the home and business settings, will increase, while the income stream to the Slackware team will also be reinstated so that teams can once again be employed so that we don't have to worry how much longer Slackware will continue to be published.

Let's not forget the reason Slackware exists in the first place:

1.) Because Bill Joliet's BSD sucked and left an opening for Linux, and...

2.) Because SLS sucked.

Slackware continues to embody the same principles and ideals upon which it was created, which is something that Redhat and most other quite prominent distros have left waving in the wind.

NOTE: I've been a longtime "subscriber" to Slackware. I don't do this so I can have Slackware because I sometimes don't even open it when it is delivered to me (does that make me a collector too?). I d/l all the ISOs and pack 'em in my CD satchel for the everyday use, and deployment of an OS install on machinery - I purchase Slackware because I want it to be around in the years to come.

Slackware.com accepts contributions/donations of as little as $1.00 too (hint, hint).

I gain nothing personally from this - other than knowing that in some small way, I have contributed to the continuing legacy of Slackware.

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You are right. We must contribute and buy from the store, to help Mr. Volkerding to keep Slackware around.

But what would happen if Mr. Volkerding wants to stop doing and maintaining Slackware, I wonder what will happen to it ? does the Slackware community will continue ? or the derivatives will go on ?

I think derivatives of Slackware are good, but they can take the place of Slackware?

I think only God knows what will happen if Slackware disappears.

Personally i don't like the debian ones, mandriva is ok, but heavy, red hat ones are ok, but that rpm sometimes gave me headaches. I like Slackware because is simple and stable. God Bless Mr. Volkerding.

Make it go beyond current focusing on (new) hardware... and heavy Desktop? Video, pictures and audio edit amateur/experimental? Desktop Publishing or a monster cluster... A live stable current lab =]

@tallship: what are the options for a cheapo foreign guy without plastic cards?

Well, that's certainly an interesting question!

I suppose you could snailmail a donation to them, although you might first want to send an email to info@slackware-dawt-calm first, to make sure it really goes where you want it to.

The address from the website is:

Slackware Linux
1164 Claremont Dr
Brentwood CA 94513-2952
USA

(925) 240-6652


And the link to make a donation, although buried in the site, is located at: http://store.slackware.com/cgi-bin/store/slackdonation

A PayPal donation link would bring in a lot more donations I am sure though

Anything more specific than that I would have to defer to others more in the know.

Tallship, thanks your attention. My real desire is to buy the blue$black box, but my country fix imports on U$50,00. Any value up this, they add 60% of taxes plus almost some more 15/20%. I'll think in something. Thanks again.

The Slamd64 sites are UP.
Just FYI.