This Linux distro makes Slackware easier than ever

ZDNET’s key takeaways

• Slackel is a user-friendly take on the otherwise challenging Slackware.
• There are four different desktop variations to choose from.
• Slackel is a great distribution for learning Linux.

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Slackware has been around since 1993 and has served as the foundation for many Linux distributions, such as the early iterations of SUSE. What sets Slackware apart from other Linux distributions is that it tries to be more UNIX-like than not. Slackware makes as few modifications as possible to upstream software packages, does not anticipate use cases, and provides no GUI installer.

It’s that lack of a GUI installer that keeps some users from giving Slackware a try. That’s a shame, because Slackware is a remarkably stable operating system. Fortunately, there are always distributions based on Slackware, one of which is called Slackel.

Slackel borrows some tools from Salix (another distribution based on Slackware) and has a user-friendly GUI installer. Slackel can be installed to an internal drive, to external media (such as USB drives), or run as a live instance. In other words, Slackel is the most Linux-like of the UNIX-like distributions. Make sense?

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Think of it this way: Slackel is to Slackware what Ubuntu is to Linux. This distribution aims to make what might otherwise be challenging much less so, and it succeeds.

First off, the Slackel installer makes installing a Slackware-based distribution much easier. It’s a point-and-click affair, but do know this: you have to take a few extra steps, as Slackel requires you to prepare your drive first. The preparation is done outside of the installer, but Slackel does include the GParted tool, which makes this easy. You’ll first have to create an MS-DOS partition table, and then create your ext4 partition that will be used for the installation. Outside of that, the installation is as easy as any Linux installer.

I hope I haven’t scared you off yet. 

Slackel has multiple versions

There are four versions of Slackel. 

• OpenBox
• KDE Plasma
• MATE
• FluxBox

I went with the OpenBox version, simply for something a bit different. I was surprised, however, upon first login to find that OpenBox was laid out like most lightweight desktop environments, holding true to the traditional desktop metaphor:

• Bottom panel
• Start button
• System tray
• Desktop icons

It’s basic, it’s easy, it’s fast.

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Beyond the desktop, you get the usual collection of software, including LibreOffice, MPlayer (multimedia player), GIMP, Firefox, Thunderbird, Leafpad (text editor), HP Device Manager, and even a tool called Slackel Dashboard, which gives you quick access to setting up printers, monitors, keyboards, installing applications (via the Glsapt Package Manager), and more.

Speaking of Gslapt, this app is very much like Synaptic and makes installing apps fairly straightforward. All you do is open the app, search for the app you want to install, mark it for installation, and apply.

Simplified Slackware

All of this comes together to make Slackware simple enough that anyone could use it, and that’s saying something because Slackware isn’t exactly the most user-friendly Linux distribution on the planet. But given how rock-solid Slackware is, having a distribution that makes it possible for the masses to use is a big deal.

The one thing to keep in mind is that if you want Slackel to look a bit more modern, go with the KDE Plasma spin, because the OpenBox and FluxBox desktop environments definitely look outdated, and MATE is a solid in-between those two worlds. So, if you want modern, go with KDE Plasma; if you want easy, go with MATE; if you want fast (and don’t care that it looks like it was built in the early 2000s), go with either OpenBox or FluxBox.

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I will say this about the OpenBox version: it might look a bit long in the tooth, but the performance of both this and the FluxBox desktop is stellar. If you want fast, these two desktops are just what the doctor ordered. Sure, they look out of date, but they’re still highly functional, easy to use, and can make your computer feel like it’s brand new.

Should you try Slackel?

In the end, Slackel is a desktop Linux distribution that makes Slackware easy to use for the masses. Does that mean it’s the right distribution for you? If Slackel didn’t include a GUI installer or a GUI frontend for the package manager, I’d say anyone without Linux experience (and a certain comfort level with the command line) should pass. Because Slackel has GUIs for everything, it does make it considerably easier to use. 

Would I recommend it to someone who’s never used Linux? No. I would say you should start with one of the distributions that is geared toward new users (such as Ubuntu, Linux Mint, ZorinOS, or elementaryOS). If you’ve installed and used Linux before but want to really learn how UNIX/Linux works, this is a great distribution to start with. On top of that, if you want a distribution that doesn’t modify software from its original design or intent, Slackel is a perfect choice.

Also: Why this lightweight Linux distro won’t win any popularity contests but is perfect for power users

If I’ve piqued your interest, download an ISO of the Slackel version you want to use and either test it as a live instance or install it and see what it’s all about.

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