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diff --git a/ANNOUNCE.14_2 b/ANNOUNCE.14_2 new file mode 100644 index 000000000..1565719de --- /dev/null +++ b/ANNOUNCE.14_2 @@ -0,0 +1,215 @@ + + Yes, it is that time again (finally)! Following a long period of +planning, development, and testing, the Slackware Linux Project is proud +to announce the latest stable release of the longest running distribution +of the Linux operating system, Slackware version 14.2! + + We are sure you'll enjoy the many improvements. We've done our best +to bring the latest technology to Slackware while still maintaining the +stability and security that you have come to expect. Slackware is well +known for its simplicity and the fact that we try to bring software to +you in the condition that the authors intended. + + Slackware 14.2 brings many updates and enhancements, among which +you'll find two of the most advanced desktop environments available +today: Xfce 4.12.1, a fast and lightweight but visually appealing and +easy to use desktop environment, and KDE 4.14.21 (KDE 4.14.3 with +kdelibs-4.14.21) a stable release of the 4.14.x series of the award- +winning KDE desktop environment. These desktops utilize eudev, udisks, +and udisks2, and many of the specifications from freedesktop.org which +allow the system administrator to grant use of various hardware devices +according to users' group membership so that they will be able to use +items such as USB flash sticks, USB cameras that appear like USB storage, +portable hard drives, CD and DVD media, MP3 players, and more, all +without requiring sudo, the mount or umount command. Just plug and play. +Slackware's desktop should be suitable for any level of Linux experience. + + Slackware uses the 4.4.14 kernel bringing you advanced performance +features such as journaling filesystems, SCSI and ATA RAID volume +support, SATA support, Software RAID, LVM (the Logical Volume Manager), +and encrypted filesystems. Kernel support for X DRI (the Direct +Rendering Interface) brings high-speed hardware accelerated 3D graphics +to Linux. + + There are two kinds of kernels in Slackware. First there are the +huge kernels, which contain support for just about every driver in the +Linux kernel. These are primarily intended to be used for installation, +but there's no real reason that you couldn't continue to run them after +you have installed. The other type of kernel is the generic kernel, in +which nearly every driver is built as a module. To use a generic kernel +you'll need to build an initrd to load your filesystem module and +possibly your drive controller or other drivers needed at boot time, +configure LILO to load the initrd at boot, and reinstall LILO. See the +docs in /boot after installing for more information. Slackware's Linux +kernels come in both SMP and non-SMP types now. The SMP kernel supports +multiple processors, multi-core CPUs, HyperThreading, and about every +other optimization available. In our own testing this kernel has proven +to be fast, stable, and reliable. We recommend using the SMP kernel +even on single processor machines if it will run on them. Note that on +x86_64 (64-bit), all the kernels are SMP capable. + + +Here are some of the advanced features of Slackware 14.2: + +- Runs the 4.4.14 version of the Linux kernel from ftp.kernel.org. + The 4.4.x series is well-tested, offers good performance, and will be + getting long term support from kernel.org. For people interested in + running the latest Linux kernel, we've also put configuration files for + Linux 4.6 in /testing. + +- System binaries are linked with the GNU C Library, version 2.23. + This version of glibc also has excellent compatibility with + existing binaries. + +- X11 based on the X.Org Foundation's modular X Window System. + This is X11R7.7 with many improvements in terms of performance and + hardware support. + +- Installs gcc-5.3.0 as the default C, C++, Objective-C, + Fortran-77/95/2003/2008, and Ada 95/2005/2012 compiler. + +- Also includes LLVM and Clang, an alternate compiler for C, C++, + Objective-C and Objective-C++. + +- The x86_64 version of Slackware 14.2 supports installation and booting + on machines using UEFI firmware. + +- Support for NetworkManager for simple configuration of wired and + wireless network connections, including mobile broadband, IPv6, VPN, + and more. Roam seamlessly between known networks, and quickly set + up new connections. We've retained full support for the traditional + Slackware networking scripts and for the wicd network manager, + offering choice and flexibility to all levels of users. + +- Support for fully encrypted network connections with OpenSSL, + OpenSSH, OpenVPN, and GnuPG. + +- Apache (httpd) 2.4.20 web server with Dynamic Shared Object + support, SSL, and PHP 5.6.23. + +- USB2, USB3, IEEE 1394 (FireWire), and ACPI support, as well as legacy + PCMCIA and Cardbus support. This makes Slackware a great operating + system for your laptop. + +- The udev (eudev) dynamic device management system for Linux 4.x. + This locates and configures most hardware automatically as it is added + (or removed) from the system, loading kernel modules as needed. It + works along with the kernel's tmpfs filesystem to create access nodes + in the /dev directory. + +- New development tools, including Perl 5.22.2, Python 2.7.11, + Ruby 2.2.5, Subversion 1.9.4, git-2.9.0, mercurial-3.8.2, + 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 14.1 to + Slackware 14.2 (see UPGRADE.TXT and 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 will help you build and maintain + your own packages. + +- Web browsers galore! Includes KDE's Konqueror 4.14.13, SeaMonkey 2.40 + (this is the replacement for the Mozilla Suite), Mozilla Firefox ESR 45.2.0, + as well as the Thunderbird 45.1.1 email and news client with advanced + junk mail filtering. A script is also available in /extra to repackage + Google Chrome as a native Slackware package (Chrome is only available for + x86_64). + +- The KDE Software Compilation 4.14.21 (KDE 4.14.3 with kdelibs-4.14.21), + a complete desktop environment. This includes the Calligra productivity + suite (previously known as KOffice), networking tools, GUI development + with KDevelop, multimedia tools (including the 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. + +- A collection of GTK+ based applications including pidgin-2.10.12, + gimp-2.8.16, gkrellm-2.3.7, hexchat-2.12.1, xsane-0.999, and pan-0.139. + +- A repository of extra software packages compiled and ready to run + in the /extra directory. + +- Many more improved and upgraded packages than we can list here. For + a complete list of core packages in Slackware 14.2, see this file: + + ftp://ftp.slackware.com/pub/slackware/slackware-14.2/PACKAGES.TXT + + +Downloading Slackware 14.2: +--------------------------- + + The full version of Slackware Linux 14.2 is available for download +from the central Slackware FTP site hosted by our friends at osuosl.org: + + ftp://ftp.slackware.com/pub/slackware/slackware-14.2/ + +If the sites are busy, see the list of official mirror sites here: + + http://mirrors.slackware.com + + We will be setting up BitTorrent downloads for the official ISO +images. Stay tuned to http://slackware.com for the latest updates. + + Instructions for burning the Slackware tree onto install discs may +be found in the isolinux directory. + + +Purchasing Slackware on CD-ROM or DVD: +-------------------------------------- + + Or, please consider purchasing the Slackware Linux 14.2 six CD-ROM +set or deluxe dual-sided DVD release directly from Slackware Linux, and +you'll be helping to support the continued development of Slackware +Linux! + + The DVD release has the 32-bit x86 Slackware 14.2 release on one +side, and the 64-bit x86_64 Slackware 14.2 release on the other. Both +sides are bootable for easy installation, and includes everything from +both releases of Slackware 14.2, including the complete source code +trees. + + The 6 CD-ROM release of Slackware 14.2 is the 32-bit x86 edition. +It includes a bootable first CD-ROM for easy installation. The 6 +CD-ROMs are labeled for easy reference. + + The Slackware 14.2 x86 6 CD-ROM set is $49.95 plus shipping, or +choose the Slackware 14.2 x86/x86_64 dual-sided DVD (also $49.95 plus +shipping). + + Slackware Linux is also available by subscription. When we release +a new version of Slackware (which is normally once or twice a year) we +ship it to you and bill your credit card for a reduced subscription +price ($32.99 for the CD-ROM set, or $39.95 for the DVD) plus shipping. + + For shipping options, see the Slackware store website. Before +ordering express shipping, you may wish to check that we have the +product in stock. We make releases to the net at the same time as disc +production begins, so there is a lag between the online release and the +shipping of media. But, even if you download now you can still buy the +official media later. You'll feel good, be helping the project, and have +a great decorative item perfect for any computer room shelf. :-) + + +Ordering Information: +--------------------- + + You can order online at the Slackware Linux store: + + http://store.slackware.com + + Other Slackware items like t-shirts, caps, pins, and stickers can +also be found here. These will help you find and identify yourself to +your fellow Slackware users. + + Order inquiries (including questions about becoming a Slackware +reseller) may be directed to this address: info@slackware.com + +Have fun! :^) I hope you find Slackware to be useful, and thanks +very much for your support of this project over the years. + +--- +Patrick J. Volkerding <volkerdi@slackware.com> + +Visit us on the web at: http://slackware.com + |