SlackEX

SlackEX is an open source distribution of Linux based on the well known Slackware Linux operating system and built around the KDE Plasma Workspace and Applications desktop environment. It uses the latest Linux kernel and supports only the 64-bit instruction set architecture.

Distributed as Live ISO image

It is distributed only as an ISO archive that contains all the necessary files to deploy it into a USB flash drive of at least 2GB. The entire Live USB installation will require users to access an existing Linux distribution or a computer powered by the Microsoft Windows operating system. Detailed installation instructions can be found at http://slackex.exton.net/slackex-14.1-usb.html.

Minimalist boot prompt

The boot prompt is very minimalistic, allowing users to only start the live environment with default settings or using a debug function that acts like a failsafe mode, allowing them to troubleshoot issues encountered when using the default option.

The live session is persistent, which means that users will be able to save settings and downloaded files directly on the USB thumb drive, so they can reuse the operating system whenever they want. Of course, this means that the bigger the USB stick is, the more files you will be able to save.

Built around KDE Plasma

As mentioned, the desktop environment is powered by the KDE Plasma Workspace and Applications project. It’s comprised of a single and transparent taskbar located at the bottom edge of the screen, from where users can launch applications, interact with running programs, or access the main menu and system tray area.

Default applications

Default applications include the AbiWord word processor, Mozilla Firefox web browser, GIMP image editor, Mozilla Thunderbird email client, GParted disk partitioning tool, GSlapt package manager, and VirtualBox virtualization software.

Bottom line

Summing up, SlackEX proves to be a user-friendly Slackware distribution that can be used directly from a USB stick or installed as your only operating system. It is suitable for mid-high end machines.

What is new in this release:

• I have replaced kernel 4.6.4-x86_64-exton with kernel 4.7.1-x86_64-exton with support for "everything". Most important is that I have changed repositories from Slackware 14.1 to Current. I.e. Slackware 14.2. KDE is upgraded to version 4.14.21 (latest KDE version). All other component software is also upgraded to the latest Slackware Current version by now. I may also mention in particular GParted 0.24.0 (latest, not in Slackware's repositories), VirtualBox 5.1.4 (latest, not in Slackware's repositories), Google Chrome 46.0.2490.86 (not in Slackware's repositories), Gimp 2.8.10 (installed from source), GSlapt 0.5.3h, Firefox 48.0.1, Thunderbird 45.2.0, Samba 4.4.5 and GCC 5.4.0. Furthermore I have installed Grub2, which can be used as boot loader (if you want) after a hard drive install. Study the full package LIST. Note: I have replaced Wicd with NetworkManager. It works better.

What is new in version 14.2 Build 170831:

• I have replaced kernel 4.6.4-x86_64-exton with kernel 4.7.1-x86_64-exton with support for "everything". Most important is that I have changed repositories from Slackware 14.1 to Current. I.e. Slackware 14.2. KDE is upgraded to version 4.14.21 (latest KDE version). All other component software is also upgraded to the latest Slackware Current version by now. I may also mention in particular GParted 0.24.0 (latest, not in Slackware's repositories), VirtualBox 5.1.4 (latest, not in Slackware's repositories), Google Chrome 46.0.2490.86 (not in Slackware's repositories), Gimp 2.8.10 (installed from source), GSlapt 0.5.3h, Firefox 48.0.1, Thunderbird 45.2.0, Samba 4.4.5 and GCC 5.4.0. Furthermore I have installed Grub2, which can be used as boot loader (if you want) after a hard drive install. Study the full package LIST. Note: I have replaced Wicd with NetworkManager. It works better.

What is new in version 14.2 Build 170314:

• I have replaced kernel 4.6.4-x86_64-exton with kernel 4.7.1-x86_64-exton with support for "everything". Most important is that I have changed repositories from Slackware 14.1 to Current. I.e. Slackware 14.2. KDE is upgraded to version 4.14.21 (latest KDE version). All other component software is also upgraded to the latest Slackware Current version by now. I may also mention in particular GParted 0.24.0 (latest, not in Slackware's repositories), VirtualBox 5.1.4 (latest, not in Slackware's repositories), Google Chrome 46.0.2490.86 (not in Slackware's repositories), Gimp 2.8.10 (installed from source), GSlapt 0.5.3h, Firefox 48.0.1, Thunderbird 45.2.0, Samba 4.4.5 and GCC 5.4.0. Furthermore I have installed Grub2, which can be used as boot loader (if you want) after a hard drive install. Study the full package LIST. Note: I have replaced Wicd with NetworkManager. It works better.

What is new in version 14.2 Build 160817:

• I have replaced kernel 4.6.4-x86_64-exton with kernel 4.7.1-x86_64-exton with support for "everything". Most important is that I have changed repositories from Slackware 14.1 to Current. I.e. Slackware 14.2. KDE is upgraded to version 4.14.21 (latest KDE version). All other component software is also upgraded to the latest Slackware Current version by now. I may also mention in particular GParted 0.24.0 (latest, not in Slackware's repositories), VirtualBox 5.1.4 (latest, not in Slackware's repositories), Google Chrome 46.0.2490.86 (not in Slackware's repositories), Gimp 2.8.10 (installed from source), GSlapt 0.5.3h, Firefox 48.0.1, Thunderbird 45.2.0, Samba 4.4.5 and GCC 5.4.0. Furthermore I have installed Grub2, which can be used as boot loader (if you want) after a hard drive install. Study the full package LIST. Note: I have replaced Wicd with NetworkManager. It works better.

What is new in version 14.2 Build 160711:

• I have replaced kernel 4.5.1-x86_64-exton with kernel 4.6.4-x86_64-exton with support for "everything". Most important is that I have changed repositories from Slackware 14.1 to Current. I.e. Slackware 14.2 (released 160701). KDE is upgraded to version 4.14.21 (latest KDE version). All other component software is also upgraded to the latest Slackware Current version by now. I may also mention in particular GParted 0.24.0 (latest, not in Slackware's repositories), VirtualBox 5.1.0 (latest, not in Slackware's repositories), Google Chrome 46.0.2490.86 (not in Slackware's repositories), Gimp 2.8.10 (installed from source), GSlapt 0.5.3h, Firefox 47.0.1, Thunderbird 45.2.0, Samba 4.4.5 and GCC 5.3.0. Furthermore I have installed Grub2, which can be used as boot loader (if you want) after a hard drive install. Study the full package LIST. Note: I have replaced Wicd with NetworkManager.

What is new in version 14.2 Build 160413:

• I have replaced kernel 4.4.1-x86_64-exton with kernel 4.5.1-x86_64-exton with support for "everything". Most important is that I have changed repositories from Slackware 14.1 to Current. I.e. Slackware 14.2. KDE is upgraded to version 4.14.18 (latest KDE version). All other component software is also upgraded to the latest Slackware Current version by now. I may also mention in particular GParted 0.24.0 (latest, not in Slackware's repositories), VirtualBox 5.0.16 (latest, not in Slackware's repositories), Google Chrome 46.0.2490.86 (not in Slackware's repositories), Gimp 2.8.10 (installed from source), GSlapt 0.5.3h, Firefox 45.0.2, Thunderbird 38.7, Samba 4.3.2 and GCC 5.3.0. Furthermore I have installed Grub2, which can be used as boot loader (if you want) after a hard drive install.

What is new in version 14.2 Build 160203:

• I have replaced kernel 4.3.1-x86_64-exton with kernel 4.4.1-exton-huge with support for "everything". Most important is that I have changed repositories from Slackware 14.1 to Current. I.e. upcoming Slackware 14.2. KDE is upgraded to version 4.14.3 (latest KDE version). All other component software is also upgraded to the latest Slackware Current version by now. I may also mention in particular GParted 0.24.0 (latest, not in Slackware's repositories), VirtualBox 5.0.14 (latest, not in Slackware's repositories), Google Chrome 46.0.2490.86 (not in Slackware's repositories), Gimp 2.8.10 (installed from source), GSlapt 0.5.3h, Firefox 43.0.4, Thunderbird 38.5, Samba 4.3.2 and GCC 5.3.0. Furthermore I have installed Grub2, which can be used as boot loader (if you want) after a hard drive install. Study the full package list. NOTE: I have replaced Wicd with NetworkManager. It works better.

What is new in version 14.1 Build 150523:

• I've updated all packages to the latest version as of today and changed kernel to 4.0.4-x86_64-exton.

What is new in version 14.1 Build 141220:

• SlackEX build 141220 comes as a ZIP-file for direct installation to an USB stick.
• I have replaced kernel kernel 3.16.1-x86_64-exton with kernel 3.18.1-x86_64-exton with support for "extra everything".
• KDE is upgraded from version 4.10 to 4.10.5 (latest in Slackware's repositories).
• All other component software has been upgraded to the latest version by now (141220). I can mention GParted 0.17.0 (latest, not in Slackware's repositories), AbiWord 2.8.6 (not in Slackware's repositories), Firefox 33.1, Thunderbird 33.1, GSlapt 0.5.3h, Gimp 2.8.10 (installed from source), Samba 3.6.8, Wicd 1.7.2.4, GCC 4.8.2 and VirtualBox 4.3.20 (so that you can run Windows 8.1 in SlackEX if you feel like it).
• This was also my first Slackware system for 64 bit computers.
• Furthermore I have installed Grub2, which can be used as boot loader after a hard drive install.

What is new in version 14.1 Build 140831:

• I have replaced kernel 3.14-x86_64-exton with kernel 3.16.1-x86_64-exton with support for "everything". KDE is downgraded to version 4.10.5 from version 4.11.1. All other component software is also upgraded to the latest Slackware version by now. I may mention in particular GParted 0.17.0 (latest, not in Slackware's repositories), VirtualBox 4.3.14 (latest, not in Slackware's repositories), AbiWord 2.8.6 (not in Slackware's repositories), Gimp 2.8.10 (installed from source), GSlapt 0.5.3h, Firefox 24.7, Thunderbird 24.7, Samba 3.6.8 and GCC 4.8.2. Furthermore I have installed Grub2, which can be used as boot loader (if you want) after a hard drive install.

What is new in version 14.1 Build 140411:

• I have replaced kernel 3.13.7-x86_64-exton with kernel 3.14-x86_64-exton with support for "everything".
• KDE is downgraded to version 4.10.5 from version 4.11.1.
• All other component software were also upgraded to the latest Slackware version by now. I may mention in particular GParted 0.17.0 (latest, not in Slackware's repositories), VirtualBox 4.3.10 (latest, not in Slackware's repositories), AbiWord 2.8.6 (not in Slackware's repositories), Gimp 2.8.10 (installed from source), GSlapt 0.5.3h, Firefox 24.4, Thunderbird 24.4, Samba 3.6.8 and GCC 4.8.2.
• Furthermore I have installed Grub2,

What is new in version 14.1 Build 140326:

• SlackEX build 140326 comes as a ZIP-file for direct installation to an USB stick.
• I have replaced kernel 3.12.6-x86_64-exton with kernel 3.13.7-x86_64-exton with support for "everything".
• All packages are upgraded to the latest version by now (140326).

What is new in version 14.1 Build 140110:

• I have replaced kernel 3.11.4-x86_64-exton with kernel 3.12.6-x86_64-exton with support for "extra everything".
• KDE is downgraded from version 4.11.1 to version 4.10.5 - latest version in Slackware's repositories.
• All other component software is also upgraded to the latest Slackware 14.1 version by now. I may mention in particular GParted 0.17.0 (latest, not in Slackware's repositories), VirtualBox 4.3.6 (latest, not in Slackware's repositories), AbiWord 2.8.6 (not in Slackware's repositories), GSlapt 0.5.3h, Firefox 24.2, Thunderbird 24.2, Samba 3.6.8 and GCC 4.8.2.
• Furthermore I have installed Grub2, which can be used as boot loader (if you want) after a hard drive install.

What is new in version 131111:

• The kernel 3.10.10-x86_64-exton has been replaced with kernel 3.11.4-x86_64-exton with support for "extra everything".
• KDE is downgraded from version 4.11.1 to version 4.10.5 - the latest version in Slackware's repositories.
• All other component software is also upgraded to the latest Slackware 14.1 version by now.

What is new in version 130905:

• This release comes with KDE 4.11.1 and kernel 3.10.10-x86_64-exton.
• It's now a DVD.

What is new in version 130221:

• The system is now for 64bit computers. Nowadays the IA-32 arch is more or less obsolete, at least for desktop machines, and superseded by the x86-64 architecture. I have upgraded the kernel to version 3.7.8 (3.7.8-exton).
• Kernel 3.7.8 is one of the latest available kernels from kernel.org. "My" kernel is compiled in the same way as Slackware's original kernel 3.2.29 "huge".
• Grub2 can be used as boot loader after a hard drive installation.
• All component software is upgraded to the latest available version by now - see this PACKAGES LIST (http://slackex.exton.net/slackex-14.0-64bit-installed-packages-130221.txt).
• Most important:
• All system changes are saved automatically directly on the USB Pen Drive in SlackEX version 130221. If you later on decide you want to install SlackEX to hard drive from the USB Pen Drive all your system changes will also be installed to the hard drive.

What is new in version 14.0:

• Now based on Slackware 14.0