I was Debian GNU/Linux fanboy for most of my Linux explorations, and I continue to use it frequently as a fantastic base system. I have, though, made the immigration to Slackware for my primary desktop OS (a la SalixOS) and it has really replaced FreeBSD as my go-to server of choice. Why is that?Â
There are several reasons for that, one of which I will admit is the street-cred. I do think that using Slackware has given me a better understanding of how GNU/Linux functions and the tools at its core. But I believe it goes so much deeper than that!
Slackware embraces a distinct KISS philosophy. The installer is built on ncurses, rather than Anaconda or whatever the fancy new distros are using today :D For general systems administration, text files and BSD-like init scripts are modified by the user rather than using a GUI interface (e.g. openSUSE’s yast.) Simplicity is emphasized over convenience, although tools can be added, at the user’s discretion, that can increase the convenience. (slapt-get/gSlapt and sourcery are excellent examples of that!)
Furthermore, each Slackware release is rock solidly stable. Rather than rolling new releases on a schedule, each edition of Slackware is carefully tested and experimented with by the Slackware dev team and users. An official release is issued only when the team is confident in its stability, rather than emphasizing keeping up with the latest software and applications.
Slackware also places a greater emphasis on vanilla software than other distros take. Little or no patching and modifications are done to the upstream software, allowing the applications available to Slackware’s users to function as close to possible in the way the original authors intended it to.
Lastly, Slackware is an attractive distro in the way that it does not add extra complication or cruft to existing solutions (if ain’t broke, don’t fix it). Package management, in particular, is a good example of this. It is handled by simple shell scripts acting on compressed files, without any dependency management.
Overall, Slackware treats the user like an experienced Linux user, a user who knows what he or she wants on their system and can make choices and solve problems by themselves without large, crusty “tools” to get in their way. While not for everyone, it gives those who choose to use it a sense of freedom and trust so central to the FOSS community.
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