| Slackware Linux 12.0 goes gold |
Jul. 03, 2007
 The Slackware Linux team this week released stable v12.0 of its Linux distribution. Slackware Linux v12.0 boasts a 2.6.21.5 kernel, a KDE 4.5.6 default desktop environment, the latest modular X11 Window System, and numerous other advanced features.
"Since we've moved to supporting the 2.6 kernel series exclusively (and fine-tuned the system to get the most out of it), we feel that Slackware 12.0 has many improvements over our last release and is a must-have upgrade for any Slackware user," said originator and chief maintainer Patrick Volkerding.
The 2.6.21.5 kernel enables advanced performance features, such as journaling file systems, SCSI and ATA RAID volume support, SATA support, Software RAID, LVM (Logical Volume Manager), and encrypted filesystems, Volkerding said.
Kernel support for X DRI (Direct Rendering Interface) brings high-speed hardware accelerated 3D graphics to Linux, he added.
Volkerding also said that "we have switched from the older one-piece X11 Window System to the newest modular X11 from X.Org, which should be simpler to maintain and will likely speed up development of new features for X (such as translucent windows and a few other things that are on the horizon)."
Other key new features of Slackware 12.0, as listed by the team, include: - system binaries are linked with the GNU C Library, version 2.5
- Apache 2.2.4 web server with Dynamic Shared Object support, SSL, and PHP 5.2.3
- the udev dynamic device management system
- updated versions of the Slackware package management tools
Standard features include:- Firefox 2.0.0.4 browser
- GIMP 2.2.15 graphics editor
- Pidgin 2.0.2 messenger
- Thunderbird 2.0.0.4 email client
Slackware is an advanced Linux operating system, designed with the twin goals of ease of use and stability as top priorities, the team said. The distro includes the latest popular software while retaining a sense of tradition, providing simplicity and ease of use alongside flexibility and power, the team added.
Slackware 12.0 CD and DVD images (3.7GB) should be available from the project's FTP/HTTP mirrors within a few days, the team said; in the meantime, the new Slackware is available via BitTorrent, here.
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