Gnome removal

Posted: Wed May 04, 2005 11:20 am Post subject: Re: Gnome removal

ftp://ftp.slackware.com/pub/slackware/slackware-current/ChangeLog.txt

+--------------------------+
Sat Mar 26 23:04:41 PST 2005
...
...

gnome/*: Removed from -current, and turned over to community support and
distribution. I'm not going to rehash all the reasons behind this, but it's
been under consideration for more than four years. There are already good
projects in place to provide Slackware GNOME for those who want it, and
these are more complete than what Slackware has shipped in the past. So, if
you're looking for GNOME for Slackware -current, I would recommend looking at
these two projects for well-built packages that follow a policy of minimal
interference with the base Slackware system:

http://gsb.sf.net
http://gware.sf.net

There is also Dropline, of course, which is quite popular. However, due to
their policy of adding PAM and replacing large system packages (like the
entire X11 system) with their own versions, I can't give quite the same sort
of nod to Dropline. Nevertheless, it remains another choice, and it's _your_
system, so I will also mention their project:

http://www.dropline.net/gnome/

Please do not incorrectly interpret any of this as a slight against GNOME
itself, which (although it does usually need to be fixed and polished beyond
the way it ships from upstream more so than, say, KDE or XFce) is a decent
desktop choice. So are a lot of others, but Slackware does not need to ship
every choice. GNOME is and always has been a moving target (even the
"stable" releases usually aren't quite ready yet) that really does demand a
team to keep up on all the changes (many of which are not always well
documented). I fully expect that this move will improve the quality of both
Slackware itself, and the quality (and quantity) of the GNOME options
available for it.

Folks, this is how open source is supposed to work. Enjoy. Smile

Guest

IMHO:
I like Slackware. Always have, and probably always will. My first exposure to Linux was through Patrick Volkerdink's earlier Slackware book (1.2.8 kernel). Back then, I learned how to install Linux from >>GASP<< floppy disks, configure the X-WIndows system, (re)compile a new kernel, and how to configure Linux networking through a 9600 baud modem. Window managers were not quite as prevailent as they are today, but there were a few notable choices (i.e. - MWM, TVM, etc). I had a productive alternative U*NX system running at home for relatively nothing!
I still have that old CDROM from the book I purchased in the 1.2.8 kernel days Wink

...And it still works! Albeit, it does feel VERY inferior to today's kernels on the same hardware (80486SX/33).
Today, the world has been graced with numerous X-Windows alternatives (i.e. - Gnome, KDE, Enlightenment, etc), including those of past infamy. Even the core X engine has changed from XFree86 to XORG. The design of Slackware hasn't really changed much.
Since my "Linux Infancy", I have seen alternative distributions and their successive generations (or regurgitations, if you will) - Mandrake, Suse, RedHat, TurboLinux, Knoppix, and (would you believe), Linux Router Project!!! Anything ranging from fully loaded, application bloated distributions, down to the streamlined uni-functional one-floppy-cures-all wonders. All in all, Linux = GOOD...
With all this said, I can personally vouch for Slackware as my primary Linux distribution of choice! Whether Mr. Volkerdink has chosen to drop Gnome or Enlightenment, or (my personal favorite), KDE from future distributions, is a mute point! Window managers may be a significant portion of any Linux distribution, but let's face it... they are NOT a major dependancy to maintaining a stable and functional Linux system! If any single window manager should ever have that kind of power, then maybe Bill Gates should prepare himself for major competition Wink

My reasons for preferring Slackware are somewhat exclusive! I've used the various Fedora Core and Red Hat distributions, to support my company's "corporate direction". I've used Mandrake at home, until I started having "quality concerns" over numerous kernel compilation issues and inconsistancies. Other distributions had their place or just didn't have the "following" of the Linux community.
Again, Slackware is a personal choice. As far as Linux distributions go, Slackware is NOT for those whom want an "out-of-the-box" and overly managable Linux solution!!! IMHO, Slackware is a technician's and developer's choice for kernel stababilty. All that other STUFF is gravy. KDE, Gnome, those "pretty, little pictures" and themes... GAMES... It's all bloat!

Hope this is met well...
Daniel Erskine
UN*X Administrator

-- Gimmee a root command-line, or gimmee death!

Posted: Tue Jul 12, 2005 11:18 am Post subject: ... Gnome in Slack ...

Personally, I've been using Slack since 1993, but I have not been using the default Gnome packages for several years - I've been using Dropline on my machines since I found out about it - of course DLG IS x686 only, so you do have to have a recent CPU in orrder to install.

As an earlier poster stated, this is Pat's baby, just like the Linux kernel is Linus' baby. Losing Gnome from the stock CD's pretty much has no effect on my subscription to Slackware.

As Pat stated in the changelog, there are several alternatives to his packaging Gnome on the CD, I just hope he makes a note in the README files somewhere about where Gnome desktop can be aquired ( I'm not particularly fond of KDE - interface/office suite preferences - although it does have some nice applications ).

{edit}

Almost forgot - Slackware does not seem to be popular with major companies - my guess is because other systems have a better support contract that they can hang on; of course, this probably means that they need support contracts as well Very Happy

_________________
- Ken
Slackin' since 1993

New Guy Joined: 26 Sep 2005 Posts: 17

@chutch
You are not right.
Because I think that the Slackware package system is the best.
Why?
Probably You use rpm, and you are noticed that when you install some program in most cases had a problem with dependencies of the packages.
I noticed that in 50-70% of the rpm packages are in such case.
To install something the program needs the xxx.xxx.rpm and yyy.yyy.rpm.
But when the user spent 2 hours to find this packages so what?
This packages needs more xxx.xxx.rpm and yyy.yyy.rpm.
This is stupid.I spent 1 day to find needed packages for some program for SuSE Linux and what I gain?
Nothing, absolutely nothing.In Slackware the problem would be solved for 2 minutes with .tgz packages.

I support the Slackware because of that.Because I have expensive time and I don't have time for loosing with this stupid rpm format in Fedora and SuSE.

Another thing Fedora doesn't support ldconfig.Why?
Because Fedora doesn't support some unix standarts.
So in next 100 years I will use SLACKWARE.
Bye.