Editing Slackware (section)

{{Short description|Linux distribution}}
{{About-distinguish|the Linux distribution|Slack (software)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Infobox OS
| name = Slackware
| logo = Slackware logo from the official Slackware site.svg
| screenshot = Slackware 15.0 screenshot.png
| caption = Slackware 15.0 with [[KDE Plasma 5]] as the desktop environment
| developer = [[Patrick Volkerding]]
| family = [[Linux]] ([[Unix-like]]) (based on [[Softlanding Linux System]])
| released = {{Start date and age|1993|07|17|df=yes}}<ref name="comp.os.linux" /><!-- NOTE: The release announcement posted on the Slackware Website was modified to show an incorrect date. SLACKWARE 1.0 WAS RELEASED ON 17 July 1993 00:16:36 GMT. Please read [https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Talk:Slackware&oldid=509078698#ANNOUNCE:_Slackware_Linux_Distribution_1.00] before "correcting" the release date. It is already correct. -->
| language = Multilingual
| userland = [[GNU Core Utilities|GNU]]
| ui = [[GNU Bash|CLI]]
| license = [[GNU General Public License]]
| website = {{URL|www.slackware.com}}
| source_model = [[Open-source software|Open source]]
| working_state = Current
| latest release version = {{wikidata|property|preferred|reference|edit|Q58436|P348|P548=Q2804309}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.slackware.com/announce/15.0.php|title=Slackware Release Announcement|date=2 February 2022|publisher=The Slackware Linux Project}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.slackware.com/announce/15.0.php|title=Slackware 15.0 released|first=Patrick|last=Volkerding|date=2022-02-02|publisher=The Slackware Linux Project|access-date=2022-02-03}}</ref>
| latest release date = {{Start date and age|{{wikidata|qualifier|preferred|single|Q58436|P348|P548=Q2804309|P577}}}}
| kernel_type = [[Monolithic kernel|Monolithic]] ([[Linux kernel|Linux]])
| supported_platforms = [[IA-32]], [[x86-64]], [[ARM architecture|ARM]]
| updatemodel = pkgtool, [[slackpkg]]
| package_manager = pkgtool, [[slackpkg]]
}}

'''Slackware''' is a [[Linux distribution]] created by [[Patrick Volkerding]] in 1993. Originally based on [[Softlanding Linux System]] (SLS),<ref>[https://www.tech-insider.org/linux/research/1993/0711.html Want an SLS like .99pl11A system?]</ref> Slackware has been the basis for many other Linux distributions, most notably the first versions of [[SUSE Linux]] distributions, and is the oldest distribution that is still maintained.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://distrowatch.com/dwres.php?resource=major |title=Top Ten Distributions |author=Distrowatch.com |access-date=July 22, 2017 |archive-date=April 2, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130402195650/http://distrowatch.com/dwres.php?resource=major |url-status=live }}</ref>

Slackware aims for design stability and simplicity and to be the most "[[Unix-like]]" [[Linux distribution]].<ref name="info-page">{{cite web |url=http://slackware.com/info |title=The Slackware Linux Project: General Information |website=Slackware.com |access-date=July 22, 2017 |archive-date=July 11, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170711045712/http://www.slackware.com/info/ |url-status=live }}</ref> It makes as few modifications as possible to software packages from [[upstream (software development)|upstream]] and tries not to anticipate use cases or preclude user decisions. In contrast to most modern Linux distributions, Slackware provides no graphical installation procedure and no automatic dependency resolution of software packages. It uses plain text files and only a small set of [[shell script]]s for configuration and administration. Without further modification it boots into a [[command-line interface]] environment. Because of its many conservative and simplistic features, Slackware is often considered to be most suitable for advanced and technically inclined Linux users.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://docs.slackware.com/slackware:faq#slackware_linux_has_a_reputation_for_being_tough_for_newbies_is_this_true |title=Slackware FAQ: Slackware Linux has a reputation for being tough for newbies. Is this true? |author=Slackware Inc. |access-date=October 8, 2015 |archive-date=September 5, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150905101007/http://docs.slackware.com/slackware:faq#slackware_linux_has_a_reputation_for_being_tough_for_newbies_is_this_true |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.datamation.com/osrc/article.php/3928121/Top-Linux-Distros-For-Every-Level-User.htm |title=Top Linux Distros For Every Level User |author=Datamation |access-date=October 8, 2015 |archive-date=November 18, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151118185033/http://www.datamation.com/osrc/article.php/3928121/Top-Linux-Distros-For-Every-Level-User.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.linux.org/threads/which-distro-is-right-for-me.4834/ |title=Which Distro is Right for Me? |author=Linux.org |access-date=October 8, 2015 |archive-date=October 9, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151009075110/http://www.linux.org/threads/which-distro-is-right-for-me.4834/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.techradar.com/us/news/software/operating-systems/best-linux-distros-for-power-users-1153562 |title=Power user Linux distros: 5 reviewed and rated |author=Tech Radar |access-date=October 8, 2015 |archive-date=November 2, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151102032542/http://www.techradar.com/us/news/software/operating-systems/best-linux-distros-for-power-users-1153562 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.itpro.co.uk/619540/slackware-linux---less-is-more |title=Slackware Linux - Less is more |author=IT Pro |date=January 18, 2010 |access-date=October 8, 2015 |archive-date=November 19, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151119044318/http://www.itpro.co.uk/619540/slackware-linux---less-is-more |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pcworld.com/article/204767/a_guide_to_todays_top_10_linux_distributions.html |title=A Guide to Today's Top 10 Linux Distributions |author=PC World |access-date=October 8, 2015 |archive-date=October 11, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151011185842/http://www.pcworld.com/article/204767/a_guide_to_todays_top_10_linux_distributions.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

Slackware is available for the [[IA-32]] and [[x86-64|x86_64]] architectures, with a port to the [[ARM architecture]]. While Slackware is mostly<ref name=freeslack>{{cite web |url=http://freeslack.net/ |title=FreeSlack |website=FreeSlack.net |access-date=July 22, 2017 |archive-date=July 27, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170727153514/http://freeslack.net/ |url-status=live }}</ref> [[free and open-source software]], it does not have a formal [[bug tracking system|bug tracking]] facility or public code repository, with releases periodically announced by Volkerding. There is no formal membership procedure for developers and Volkerding is the primary contributor to releases.