[2024-feb-29] Sad news: Eric Layton aka Nocturnal Slacker aka vtel57 passed away on Feb 26th, shortly after hospitalization. He was one of our Wiki's most prominent admins. He will be missed.

Welcome to the Slackware Documentation Project

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howtos:misc:get_acquainted_with_slackware [2015/01/10 05:30 (UTC)] – [Installation, configuration, startup] didierspaierhowtos:misc:get_acquainted_with_slackware [2020/08/10 20:20 (UTC)] (current) – Remove reference to the Store. alienbob
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-<!-- Add your text below. We strongly advise to start with a Headline (see button bar above). --> 
 ===== Get acquainted with Slackware ===== ===== Get acquainted with Slackware =====
  
 ==== Introduction ==== ==== Introduction ====
-This document is intended to people who want to get quickly acquainted with +This document is intended to allow people who have already used another "Unix-like" system to get quickly acquainted with 
-Slackware. Requirements+Slackware. We assume that the reader
-  * have already used another *nix style system, like any other Linux distribution, *BSD or OS X, know the main Unix commands and the associated concepts, +  * knows the main Unix commands and the associated concepts, 
-  * already know how-to locate and edit a text file (such as a configuration file) and read a simple shell script.+  * knows how-to edit a text file (such as a configuration file) 
 +  * can read a simple shell script.
  
 ==== Resources ==== ==== Resources ====
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 following resources: following resources:
  
-  * [[https://store.slackware.com/cgi-bin/store|The store]] to financially support Slackware,+  * [[https://www.patreon.com/slackwarelinux/overview|The official Patreon page]] to financially support Slackware,
   * [[http://mirrors.slackware.com/slackware/slackware-iso/|ISO images]], a [[http://mirrors.slackware.com/|mirrors list]], [[http://www.slackware.com/getslack/torrents.php|torrents]] to get the distribution,   * [[http://mirrors.slackware.com/slackware/slackware-iso/|ISO images]], a [[http://mirrors.slackware.com/|mirrors list]], [[http://www.slackware.com/getslack/torrents.php|torrents]] to get the distribution,
   * [[http://mirrors.slackware.com/slackware/|Files trees]] from version 1.01,   * [[http://mirrors.slackware.com/slackware/|Files trees]] from version 1.01,
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 |-- pasture/              obsolete packages and sources |-- pasture/              obsolete packages and sources
 |-- patches/              packages and sources updated after a release |-- patches/              packages and sources updated after a release
-|-- slackware/            base packages (if 64-bit) +|-- slackware/            base packages (if 32-bit) 
-|-- slackware64/          base packages (if 32-bit)+|-- slackware64/          base packages (if 64-bit)
 |-- testing/              packages intended for adventurous |-- testing/              packages intended for adventurous
 `-- usb-and-pxe-installers/ alternate installation methods `-- usb-and-pxe-installers/ alternate installation methods
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 [[http://slint.fr|Slint]] offers [[http://slint.fr/installer.html|polyglot [[http://slint.fr|Slint]] offers [[http://slint.fr/installer.html|polyglot
 installers]], which also complement the system configuration: choosing the installers]], which also complement the system configuration: choosing the
-language, keyboard plan and creating ordinary users. A+language, the keyboard layout and creating ordinary users. A
 [[http://slint.fr/package.html|Slint package]], also installed, provides [[http://slint.fr/package.html|Slint package]], also installed, provides
 polyglot versions of the main administration tools and/or their manual polyglot versions of the main administration tools and/or their manual
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   * To change the font for the console type ''setconsolefont''   * To change the font for the console type ''setconsolefont''
   * To change the console keymap edit /etc/rc.d/rc.keymap and make it executable   * To change the console keymap edit /etc/rc.d/rc.keymap and make it executable
-  * To change the LANG edit /etc/profile.d/lang.sh and case occuring /etc/profile.d/lang.csh. Note: in Slackware /bin/sh is a symlink to /bin/bash. +  * To change the LANG edit /etc/profile.d/lang.sh and case occurring /etc/profile.d/lang.csh. Note: in Slackware /bin/sh is a symlink to /bin/bash. 
-  * To modify the keyboard settings for X (in graphical mode), copy usr/share/X11/xorg.conf.d/90-keyboard-layout.conf to /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d, hen edit the copy. The file /etc/X11/xkb/rules/evdev.lst lists all known alues for XkbModel, XkbLayout, XkbVariant and XkbOptions under the especive headings ''! model'', ''! layout'', ''! variant'' and ''! option''+  * To modify the keyboard settings for X (in graphical mode), copy usr/share/X11/xorg.conf.d/90-keyboard-layout.conf to /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d, hen edit the copy. The file /etc/X11/xkb/rules/evdev.lst lists all known alues for XkbModel, XkbLayout, XkbVariant and XkbOptions under the respective headings ''! model'', ''! layout'', ''! variant'' and ''! option''
   * You can re-run the setup scripts (already used at the end of installation) using the command ''pkgtool'', menu entry ''Setup''.   * You can re-run the setup scripts (already used at the end of installation) using the command ''pkgtool'', menu entry ''Setup''.
  
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 In general, Slackware does not prejudge how the system will be used. It is up In general, Slackware does not prejudge how the system will be used. It is up
 to the administrator to customize it for its intended usage by editing the to the administrator to customize it for its intended usage by editing the
-configuration files located in /etc or its subdirectoriesReading comments+configuration files located in /etc or its sub-directoriesIt helps to read the comments
 in scripts for management of services located in /etc/rc.d as well as in the in scripts for management of services located in /etc/rc.d as well as in the
-configuration files helps.+configuration files.
  
 === Startup === === Startup ===
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   * using the command ''pkgtool'' (choose ''Setup'' then ''services'' in the menu).   * using the command ''pkgtool'' (choose ''Setup'' then ''services'' in the menu).
  
-Note. As all administration tools, ''pkgtools'' should be run as root.+Note. As all administration tools, ''pkgtool'' should be run as root.
  
 ==== Management of software packages ==== ==== Management of software packages ====
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 applications and associated documents, and if necessary scripts executed applications and associated documents, and if necessary scripts executed
 during installation, noticeably for creating symbolic links or manage the during installation, noticeably for creating symbolic links or manage the
-configuration files and services management scripts.+configuration files and servicesmanagement scripts.
  
 A Slackware package consists in a file tree archived with ''tar'' and once A Slackware package consists in a file tree archived with ''tar'' and once
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 usually ends with the execution of the ''makepkg'' command, which makes the usually ends with the execution of the ''makepkg'' command, which makes the
 archive from the package's file tree, including case occuring the archive from the package's file tree, including case occuring the
-appropriate installation scripts, cf. "man makepkg."+appropriate installation scripts, cf. "man makepkg".
  
 The software packages are in the directories of installation media indicated The software packages are in the directories of installation media indicated
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 software's source archive. software's source archive.
  
-In our example to modernize ''tmux'', just download the most source archive+In our example to modernize ''tmux'', just download the most recent (at time of writing) source archive
 tmux-1.9a.tar.gz from the [[http://tmux.sourceforge.net/|tmux website]], place tmux-1.9a.tar.gz from the [[http://tmux.sourceforge.net/|tmux website]], place
 it in source/ap/tmux/ and type as root from that directory it in source/ap/tmux/ and type as root from that directory
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 These functions are provided respectively by the commands ''installpkg'', These functions are provided respectively by the commands ''installpkg'',
-'removepkg', ''upgradepkg'', cf. their man pages.+''removepkg'', ''upgradepkg'', cf. their man pages.
  
 Caution: ''ugradepkg'' would be better named ''replacepkg'' as that command Caution: ''ugradepkg'' would be better named ''replacepkg'' as that command
-installs the specified package and removes the previously installed one,+installs the specified package then removes the previously installed one,
 regardless of their respective versions. regardless of their respective versions.
  
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 in one or more packages directories, for all versions of Slackware from 8.1 in one or more packages directories, for all versions of Slackware from 8.1
-up to "current" It also provides access to the files' tree of each of+up to "current".\\ 
 +It also provides access to the files' tree of each of
 these versions. these versions.
  
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 Volkerding: Volkerding:
  
->When I started this project, it really wasn't my intent to provide every +>When I started this project, it really wasn't my intent to provide every possible package, application, desktop, etc. My goal was to make a platform upon which things could be built easily and that followed upstream as closely as was possible. Of course, some applications had to be included, but the idea was to try to stick to the essentials that everyone would miss if they weren't there.
->possible package, application, desktop, etc. My goal was to make a platform +
->upon which things could be built easily and that followed upstream as +
->closely as was possible. Of course, some applications had to be included, +
->but the idea was to try to stick to the essentials that everyone would miss +
->if they weren't there.+
  
 Most of the applications missing from Slackware are available on the Most of the applications missing from Slackware are available on the
 community website http://slackbuilds.org that offers, not third party community website http://slackbuilds.org that offers, not third party
-packages, but everything needed to build them.+packages, but everything needed to build them minus the sources files.
  
-For information on using the materials, see http://slackbuilds.org/howto/.+For information on using the provided materials, see http://slackbuilds.org/howto/.
  
 The ''sbopkg'' software available here: http://www.sbopkg.org/ facilitates The ''sbopkg'' software available here: http://www.sbopkg.org/ facilitates
-usage of Slackbuilds available in http://slackbuids.org/, automating the+usage of Slackbuilds available in http://slackbuilds.org/, automating the
 download of everything needed, then the construction and installation of download of everything needed, then the construction and installation of
 packages. See "man sbopkg" and the configuration file packages. See "man sbopkg" and the configuration file
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 The website http://www.slackware.org.uk/ also hosts packages or Slackbuilds The website http://www.slackware.org.uk/ also hosts packages or Slackbuilds
-like those proposed by distributions derived from Slackware, as [[http://www.salixos.org/|Salix]]+such as those proposed by distributions derived from Slackware, as [[http://www.salixos.org/|Salix]]
 maintained mainly by George Vlahavas, or desktops not included in Slackware, maintained mainly by George Vlahavas, or desktops not included in Slackware,
 such as [[http://www.slackware.org.uk/msb/|Mate]] proposed by Chess Griffin and such as [[http://www.slackware.org.uk/msb/|Mate]] proposed by Chess Griffin and
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 elsewhere. Important warnings: elsewhere. Important warnings:
   * Know who proposes these packages and preferably trust contributors of Slackware or at least of http://slackbuilds.org   * Know who proposes these packages and preferably trust contributors of Slackware or at least of http://slackbuilds.org
-  * Carefully inspect the contents of packages before installation, including a check  of the permissions of files and any changes to existing directories and files. Use ''less'', ''tar'' and/or ''explodepkg'', see "man explodepkg."+  * Carefully inspect the contents of packages before installation, including a check  of the permissions of files and any changes to existing directories and files. Use ''less'', ''tar'' and/or ''explodepkg'', see "man explodepkg".
   * Never install a package whose sources and SlackBuild are not available.   * Never install a package whose sources and SlackBuild are not available.
  
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 to directories containing "unofficial" Slackware packages. to directories containing "unofficial" Slackware packages.
  
-=== Build you own packages ===+=== Build your own packages ===
  
 This is the recommended method if no SlackBuild is available, to benefit of This is the recommended method if no SlackBuild is available, to benefit of
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 The software ''slacktrack'', included in Slackware, can help you, as "man The software ''slacktrack'', included in Slackware, can help you, as "man
-makepkg." Inspecting existing Slackbuilds and+makepkg"Inspecting existing Slackbuilds and
 [[http://slackbuilds.org/templates/|templates]] proposed at slackbuilds.org can [[http://slackbuilds.org/templates/|templates]] proposed at slackbuilds.org can
 inspire you. Browse [[http://docs.slackware.com|SlackDocs]] with the key word inspire you. Browse [[http://docs.slackware.com|SlackDocs]] with the key word
 howtos:misc:get_acquainted_with_slackware ()