Hello, forum coleagues! New guy here, without any Linux background.

I'm going through the installation of Slackware 14.2, and I have a few questions that I didn't really get answers anywhere else, so I thought I should try here.

I'm the type the guy who really likes to be in control of the software installed on his computer and would rather avoid installing any software that wouldn't get any use latter on. If you don't use something, don't install it, right?

Before I start with the question, let me tell you that I know about the general advice: just go with the default or a full install. Well, this is not the expected answer.

So, down with the questions:

1) The most important: is there anywhere I can find more info about what goes in those categories? So I could read about it and decide for myself what to select for installation and what not?

2) Which categories are really mandatory for Slackware to run? I can tell A (Base Linux system) is a must. But do I need K (Linux kernel source)? I'm not really going to start tinkering with the kernel source or anything. And it's just the source, not the kernel itself, so I won't really need it, right?

3) This may sound stupid, but... are X and KDE related? I know one is a windowing system and the other is a desktop environment, I know what both of this mean (and if not, I can read about it online). But is there a synergy between them? Can KDE be installed without X, has KDE another windowing system of its own, does it really have to be X? Is X Window System optional? What happens if I install KDE without X?

4) What exactly goes in AP (Various Applications that do not need X)?
4.5) What exactly goes in XAP (X Applications)?

5) Most stupid question: one can't really connect to the Internet and use a web browser without installing N, right? -___- I mean, I can see the use for TCP/IP... It's just that I do not know exactly what UUCP is, and I do not use Mail or News clients.

So I guess it is all about question number one. Can someone direct me to some place on the web to read about what goes in every package series, and what is dependent on what? I have already read the install guide on the official page and the dedicated sections from the slackwarebook, but it doesn't really go in depth.

Hope you don't mind me coming up with some questions like those, they must be really silly questions for most of you. Apologies if so. And thanks in advance for your help!

Kind regards,
Gandomyr

One good reason to install the works is that the very people you will be asking questions of will have a similar install. With a similar install they have a good chance to reproduce any problems you might have. Does this make sense?

2 members found this post helpful.

@Gordie Yes. Yes, it does. As in, if something goes wrong, people here could help me better to figure out what went wrong, since they already know what was installed and what not. I certainly didn't think about it from this perpective. It's a good thing to keep in mind. Thanks, Gordie!

1 members found this post helpful.

Slackware does not resolve dependencies so you should do a full install unless you know what you are doing or willing to learn through trial and error. If you don't want a GUI don't install X because you can't use the KDE desktop without X. You can visit a mirror to see what is included in each package series. You'll have to try to run the programs you want to see if you've met the dependencies if you do not do a full install. I personally did a full install for my desktop but if I was running a headless server I may deselect some package series that I didn't need.

https://mirrors.xmission.com/slackwa...4.2/slackware/

I was pretty darn stupid to ask that question. There's a file on the drive called PACKAGES.TXT. Everything one would like to know about what goes where is written in that file. I should've looked on the drive before asking such a useless question. Oh, well. Now I know and maybe others will learn from this awkward experience of mine too.