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Since I discovered Slackware I will never go back to Ubuntu or Debian.

by lawn 16y ago

hetman 16y ago
What are some of your main reasons?
- lawn 16y ago
  My first gripe is the repository system. It might sound silly for a lot of people but it's not as silly as it sounds. Firstly you don't have to deal with the changes that debian do to some of the packages in the repo (for example the OpenSSL security holes). Secondly if you need two different versions it can be a pain in the ass to get it to work and thirdly you don't have to install a ton of dependencies if all you want is a small program. The two last reasons are so much easier and faster to do by hand and it was such a breeze to do in Slackware compared to when I ran into it in Ubuntu. The second thing that I like a lot more with Slackware is the config style; to go into a file and to edit it directly instead of doing it GUI-style. I guess you could configure it in the files directly in Ubuntu too, but Slackware is basically built around editing these files for configuration and so I've find that they're a lot easier to edit; great documentation and easy to find. Ubunut is a great way to easily get a working linux up and running without much configuration needed, but if you have the time and energy to sit down and tinker with it a bit like I had then Slackware is pretty easy and straightforward too. Lastly I think that if you run Ubuntu, you will learn exactly that: Ubuntu. But if you run Slackware you will learn more linux with only a few Slackware specific parts like the startup scripts and the package tools - I can't honestly think of anything else which is unique to Slackware (the startup scripts are actually BSD style but meh). Which is a good thing if you want to learn linux like me.
ZeroMinx 16y ago
I'm the other way around. 10 years ago I was quite happy configuring every little bit to pieces, spending days to get X11 to work properly with some weird graphics card. Now, I enjoy being able to install the (Linux) OS on a new laptop, and everything Just Works. I guess I'm just old...
- wwortiz 16y ago
  Slackware is a bit different now that you only need to download a DVD and then pretty much all the software you want is installed, and most of the time software that isn't installed has a slackbuild which is pretty easy to install with its dependencies. Ubuntu however is easier and works fine for me.
auxbuss 16y ago
I've been testing Fedora for the past couple of weeks. My reason for considering a switch is my tiring with the serious regressions that I've encountered with every Ubuntu release. I know, the grass is always greener, but I feel I ought to give it a try. I'm also wary of Shuttleworth's commercializing of Ubuntu. I have no problem with a benevolent dictator, but Shuttleworth aim isn't benevolent.

Since I discovered Slackware I will never go back to Ubuntu or Debian.

by lawn 16y ago

Since I discovered Slackware I will never go back to Ubuntu or Debian.

hetman 16y ago

What are some of your main reasons?

lawn 16y ago
My first gripe is the repository system. It might sound silly for a lot of people but it's not as silly as it sounds. Firstly you don't have to deal with the changes that debian do to some of the packages in the repo (for example the OpenSSL security holes). Secondly if you need two different versions it can be a pain in the ass to get it to work and thirdly you don't have to install a ton of dependencies if all you want is a small program. The two last reasons are so much easier and faster to do by hand and it was such a breeze to do in Slackware compared to when I ran into it in Ubuntu. The second thing that I like a lot more with Slackware is the config style; to go into a file and to edit it directly instead of doing it GUI-style. I guess you could configure it in the files directly in Ubuntu too, but Slackware is basically built around editing these files for configuration and so I've find that they're a lot easier to edit; great documentation and easy to find. Ubunut is a great way to easily get a working linux up and running without much configuration needed, but if you have the time and energy to sit down and tinker with it a bit like I had then Slackware is pretty easy and straightforward too. Lastly I think that if you run Ubuntu, you will learn exactly that: Ubuntu. But if you run Slackware you will learn more linux with only a few Slackware specific parts like the startup scripts and the package tools - I can't honestly think of anything else which is unique to Slackware (the startup scripts are actually BSD style but meh). Which is a good thing if you want to learn linux like me.

ZeroMinx 16y ago

I'm the other way around. 10 years ago I was quite happy configuring every little bit to pieces, spending days to get X11 to work properly with some weird graphics card. Now, I enjoy being able to install the (Linux) OS on a new laptop, and everything Just Works. I guess I'm just old...

wwortiz 16y ago
Slackware is a bit different now that you only need to download a DVD and then pretty much all the software you want is installed, and most of the time software that isn't installed has a slackbuild which is pretty easy to install with its dependencies. Ubuntu however is easier and works fine for me.

auxbuss 16y ago

I've been testing Fedora for the past couple of weeks. My reason for considering a switch is my tiring with the serious regressions that I've encountered with every Ubuntu release. I know, the grass is always greener, but I feel I ought to give it a try. I'm also wary of Shuttleworth's commercializing of Ubuntu. I have no problem with a benevolent dictator, but Shuttleworth aim isn't benevolent.