Slackware 12.2 is released!

Again! slackware's developer team announce new release of slackware. according to ANNOUNCE.12_2's file that come from slackware 12.2 release directory, here is some features that available on slackware 12.2 (grab from that file):

- Runs the 2.6.27.7 version of the Linux kernel from ftp.kernel.org. Also included is a kernel patched with Speakup to support speech
synthesizers providing access to Linux for the visually impaired community.

- Some packages were upgraded from slackware/x directory

- Installs gcc-4.2.4 as the default C, C++, Objective-C, Fortran-77/95, and Ada 95 compiler.

- Apache (httpd) 2.2.10 web server with Dynamic Shared Object support, SSL, and PHP 5.2.8.

- New development tools, including Perl 5.10.0, Python 2.5.2, Ruby 1.8.7-p72, Subversion 1.5.4, git-1.6.0.3, mercurial-1.0.2, graphical tools like Qt designer and KDevelop, and much more.

- Updated versions of the Slackware package management tools make it easy to add, remove, upgrade, and make your own Slackware packages. Package tracking makes it easy to upgrade from Slackware 12.1 to Slackware 12.2 (see CHANGES_AND_HINTS.TXT). The slackpkg tool can also help update from an older version of Slackware to a newer one, and keep your Slackware system up to date. In addition, the slacktrack utility (in extra/) will help you build and maintain your own packages.

- Web browsers galore! Includes KDE's Konqueror 3.5.10, SeaMonkey 1.1.13 (this is the replacement for the Mozilla Suite), and the immensely popular Firefox 3.0.4, as well as the Thunderbird 2.0.0.18 email and news client with advanced junk mail filtering.

- The complete K Desktop Environment (KDE) version 3.5.10, including the KOffice productivity suite, networking tools, GUI development with KDevelop, multimedia tools (including the amazing Amarok music player and K3B disc burning software), the Konqueror web browser and file manager, dozens of games and utilities, international language support, and more.

- using xfce 4.4.3 for a fast and lightweight but visually appealing and easy to use desktop environment. upgrade from 4.4.2 release.

- A collection of GTK+ based applications including pidgin-2.5.2, gimp-2.4.7, gkrellm-2.3.2, gxine-0.5.903, xchat-2.8.6, xsane-0.996, and pan-0.133.

- Using Java(TM) 2 Software Development Kit Standard Edition release 6 update 11 on extra directory. Upgrade from jdk-6u6.

for people who try to upgrade from previous release, don't forget to read CHANGES_AND_HINTS.TXT file before. There are some notable changes and hints that you must apply to get your slackware working properly.

And also based from CHANGES_AND_HINTS.TXT file, here are package additions since release 12.1:
a/kernel-firmware: Added. This is architecture-independent firmware for devices (mostly sound cards), which was previously embedded into the kernel image.
ap/gphoto2: Added.
ap/libx86: Added.
ap/pm-utils: Added.
ap/radeontool: Added.
ap/slackpkg: Added (moved from /extra).
ap/sqlite: Added.
ap/vbetool: Added.
d/dev86: Added. Replaces d/bin86.
l/beecrypt: Added.
l/enchant: Added (moved from /testing/packages/kde4/deps/).
l/gtkspell: Added.
l/gstreamer: Added.
l/gst-plugins-base: Added.
l/intltool: Added.
l/libcap: Added.
l/libgphoto2: Added.
l/liboil: Added.
l/libraw1394: Added (moved from /testing/packages/kde4/deps/).
l/libvisual-plugins: Added.
l/parted. Moved from /extra.
n/alpine: Added. Replaces n/pine.
n/iwlwifi-5000-ucode: Added.
x/dri2proto: Added.
x/xdg-utils: Added.
x/xf86-input-acecad: Added.
x/xf86-input-dmc: Added.
x/xf86-input-synaptics: Added. See note below.
x/xf86-input-void: Added.
x/xf86-video-mach64: Added.
x/xf86-video-openchrome: Added.
x/xf86-video-r128: Added.
xap/xmms: Added (again) :-)
/extra/wicd: Added.

and package removals since release 12.1:
d/bin86: Removed. Replaced by d/dev86.
n/pine: Removed. Replaced by n/alpine.
extra/parted: Moved to l/ series.
extra/slackpkg: Moved to ap/ series.

and many others upgraded packages. For more info just upgrade or install it! ;-)

Slackware 12.1 with KDE 4.1 and Amarok 2 alpha

Based from latest news on slackware official site, developer team has announced that slackware package for kde 4.1 already ported in /testing directory which part of slackware current. Not only developer was happily use it, this euphoria wouldn't complete if I'm not trying it too. Now, here is my slackware desktop's screenshot using kde 4.1 and also with amarok 2 (alpha release) inside.

desktop spesification:
- Cover switch mode ( an alternative alt+tab window switcher ) for desktop effect
- using elegance theme for desktop with field of peace's wallpaper
- amarok 2 alpha release with video applet
- firefox 3.0.1 using KDE 4 theme

What I get that this version is still slower than KDE 3 which is an official version for slackware 12.1 by default. Beside that, there are several problems still appear. some icons on menu applet doesn't show up. Dolphin file manager doesn't do well when handling movie filetype if thumbnail applet enabled. It will break up when I put mouse over that filetype and dolphin will close by itself.

Maybe this major version isn't a stable phase yet and still buggy. The problems also come with amarok 2. Video applet that come with this alpha release sometime can cause amarok hang and not responsible. I think this is not the right time to use it now.

Slackware 12.1 Released

Long live for Slackware!
another new version has released this year. It's time to upgrade my system. As usual, more packages has been upgraded by developer team. But it still looks like an old-fashioned style, because I have see no new appearance inside instead a lot of upgraded packages.

Quoted from release announcement file:

This first Slackware edition of the year combines Slackware's legendary simplicity (and close tracking of original sources), stability, and security with some of the latest advances in Linux technology. Expect no less than the best Slackware yet.

Want to know more, read the official announcement's page.

Install Slackware from ISO file with grub or lilo

pre-requirement:
- already have Linux or BSD-based (FreBSD) system installed on harddisk before using grub or lilo as bootloader.
- Slackware's iso image on your harddisk.
- at least one partition prepared for your slackware system

Here are step by step:

1. Extract kernel and initramfs image's file (initrd.img) that come from slackware's iso image (you can mount it first to get both file). The location for kernel file is in /kernel directory and initramfs file is in /isolinux directory. Then, copy both file into /boot directory in your linux/FreeBSD system.

2. Configure your linux/FreeBSD grub or lilo for including slackware's kernel and initramfs file (initrd.img).
Add this entry into /boot/grub/menu.lst if using grub:
title Slackware-12.2 Install
kernel /boot/[your-slackware-kernel]
initrd /boot/[your-initramfs-file]
quiet

simply add this entry into /etc/lilo.conf if using lilo:
image=/boot/[your-slackware-kernel]
label=Slackware-12.2
initrd=/boot/[your-initramfs-file]
read-only

you need to update the configuration because lilo doesn't update that information automatically.
Run this command on your console:
lilo -v -v

3. Restart your pc/laptop to boot into slackware installation entry in your bootloader menu. Before you start to type "setup", make sure you already mount an iso file. If your slackware's iso image on /dev/hda2, then mount that device first before mount an iso. Assumed /dev/hda2 is a location of an iso file than mount it into a directory first. Here are a step by step:

cd /
mkdir hda2
mount /dev/hda2 /hda2
mkdir iso
mount -o loop -t iso9660 /hda2/[your-slackware-iso].iso /iso

4. now you can run setup. When prompted to select source media, choose an option to install from a pre-mounted directory. don't forget to add "slackware" directory when you insert into a pre-mounted directory column.

e.g: /iso/slackware

5. you can continue doing installation activity as usual.

There are another option for booting both kernel and initramfs file. You can use Loadlin from DOS or use Grub4Dos if you don't have any linux or bsd system before.

hope this helpful

Slackware 12.0 is released

A new slackware version has released now, after waiting for a long time. there is an issues before a release date, that said a release version would jump directly in major number without passing a minor one. A mistery question has asnwered. An issue became a surprise for me, that slackware has released into version 12.0. Maybe this is an unusual habit from a developer team.

I'm really curious what a great change was happen. Then I start to find out into README.TXT's file first, if there is an explanation for this question. There are only some info about major components inside slackware 12.0 which are only a new version from major components of slackware 11.0. Here are the componets's version:

- Linux kernel 2.6.21.5
- C compiler gcc-4.1.2
- Binutils 2.17.50.0.17
- GNU C Library glibc-2.5
- X Window System X11R7.2.0 from X.Org.
- KDE 3.5.7
- Xfce 4.4.1

But This is really surprising me, when I read a RELEASE_NOTES's file. Here are a qoute from that file:

About the only things to mention here are that Slackware now requires a recent 2.6.x kernel (I believe 2.6.18 is a minimum), but as usual unless your needs are specific you're probably better off running the included kernels that we've tested things against. The best kernel to run (even on a one CPU/core machine) is the generic SMP one, but that needs an initrd, so be sure to read the instructions in /boot after installing with a huge* kernel if you plan to switch. Since the initrd has been around since Slackware 11.0, hopefully most
Slackware users can take on this task easily and will not be "shocked and appalled".

Yeah, developer team decide to use kernel version 2.6 as default instead of 2.4 that usually being default from a release version before. I think this is a big changes that cause developer to jump a release version direct to major number. Also hotplug as device manager before has replaced with udev.

Another changes are completely documented in Changelog.txt's file and also in ANNOUNCE.12_0's file. As usual, it's time for upgrading system. If you would like to upgrade the system don't forget to read CHANGES_AND_HINTS.TXT's file. There are enough explanation and completes guide for upgrading system from 11.0 inside that file.

Happy slacking! :-)

Slackware 12.0 is released

A new slackware version has released now, after waiting for a long time. there is an issues before a release date, that said a release version would jump directly in major number without passing a minor one. A mistery question has asnwered. An issue became a surprise for me, that slackware has released into version 12.0. Maybe this is an unusual habit from a developer team.

I'm really curious what a great change was happen. Then I start to find out into README.TXT's file first, if there is an explanation for this question. There are only some info about major components inside slackware 12.0 which are only a new version from major components of slackware 11.0. Here are the componets's version:

- Linux kernel 2.6.21.5
- C compiler gcc-4.1.2
- Binutils 2.17.50.0.17
- GNU C Library glibc-2.5
- X Window System X11R7.2.0 from X.Org.
- KDE 3.5.7
- Xfce 4.4.1

But This is really surprising me, when I read a RELEASE_NOTES's file. Here are a qoute from that file:

About the only things to mention here are that Slackware now requires a recent 2.6.x kernel (I believe 2.6.18 is a minimum), but as usual unless your needs are specific you're probably better off running the included kernels that we've tested things against. The best kernel to run (even on a one CPU/core machine) is the generic SMP one, but that needs an initrd, so be sure to read the instructions in /boot after installing with a huge* kernel if you plan to switch. Since the initrd has been around since Slackware 11.0, hopefully most
Slackware users can take on this task easily and will not be "shocked and appalled".

Yeah, developer team decide to use kernel version 2.6 as default instead of 2.4 that usually being default from a release version before. I think this is a big changes that cause developer to jump a release version direct to major number. Also hotplug as device manager before has replaced with udev.

Another changes are completely documented in Changelog.txt's file and also in ANNOUNCE.12_0's file. As usual, it's time for upgrading system. If you would like to upgrade the system don't forget to read CHANGES_AND_HINTS.TXT's file. There are enough explanation and completes guide for upgrading system from 11.0 inside that file.

Happy slacking! :-)