Summary

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Slackware Linux is a fully modern Linux distribution that is focused on simplicity and stability. Slackware is the most Unix-like of Linux distributions, meaning that it remains truer to the traditional techniques of Unix systems than most other distributions. For this reason, Slackware is probably the easiest way for a traditional Unix user to get into the Linux world. Slackware's simplicity makes it easily customizable, and also makes it a great way for new users to learn Unix and Linux systems.

If you've read Chapter 4 and this one, you've now seen two distributions in depth: Red Hat Linux and Slackware Linux. It's important to remember what was mentioned at the beginning of this chapter: by comparing the two distributions, the intent is not to argue that one is better than the other, but rather to illustrate differences. Once you understand the differences between the way these two systems work, you'll have two perspectives on the Unix world, and will be a very big step closer to achieving that remarkable state of Zen of being able to accomplish whatever you want with your system, regardless of how it's set up. You'll either already know how to do it, or be able to learn. Once you've read Chapter 6 as well, you'll have a working knowledge of several major Linux distributions, which will translate into a working knowledge of any Linux (or even Unix-like) system.

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