Slackware

Slackware is a Linux distribution known for its emphasis on simplicity, minimalism, and a straightforward design. It was created by Patrick Volkerding in 1993 and is one of the oldest actively maintained Linux distributions. The project adheres to a Unix philosophy, providing a complete system with a small amount of automation and configuration through plain text files rather than heavy graphical or automated layers.

Slackware uses a traditional package management approach centered on the tools pkgtool, installpkg, upgradepkg, and removepkg. Package formats include .tgz and later .txz. Dependency handling is intentionally conservative; users are expected to manage and resolve package dependencies themselves. The ecosystem includes SlackBuilds, a collection of user-contributed scripts that allow administrators to compile and install packages from source with minimal alteration to the base system.

The system uses a classic init paradigm without systemd, relying on startup scripts located in /etc/rc.d and runlevels. This contributes to Slackware’s reputation for transparency and control. The distribution offers a wide range of software, with graphical environments such as KDE Plasma, Xfce, and others available as optional packages.

Slackware’s release model is conservative and stable, with longer intervals between major releases and a focus on reliability over bleeding-edge features. It is popular among experienced Linux users and system administrators who prefer a hands-on, minimally automated operating system that emphasizes configurability and clarity.