Very Computer

by **David J. Toppe** » Tue, 25 Nov 1997 04:00:00

I am becoming more and more disgruntled with Slackware all the time. I
just got my latest releast (3.4) in the mail. It seems to be exactly
the same as 3.3! What's the deal? Am I supposed to go through that
incredibly ancient upgrade process only to end up with basically the
same thing?

DT

by **Jeff Klets** » Tue, 25 Nov 1997 04:00:00

>I am becoming more and more disgruntled with Slackware all the time. I
>just got my latest releast (3.4) in the mail. It seems to be exactly
>the same as 3.3! What's the deal? Am I supposed to go through that
>incredibly ancient upgrade process only to end up with basically the
>same thing?

Well, it *does* fix the major security bug described in CERT Advisory CA-97.22,

http://www.cert.org/pub/advisories/1997/CA-97.22.bind.html

updates several major libraries and utilities, and even a couple of
bug-fixes. Ok, so the kernel is the same, BUT THIS IS NOT THE FAULT OF
THE Slackware FOLKS! It was the latest kernel available at the time they
went to "press."

One option is to use the CD-ROM to compile or load the packages you do
want to update, rahter than have to download the sources and build them
yourself -- look at the Changes file to see what's new...

So take it easy on the Slackware guys, they make a good product at a
reasonable price which is kept current with the latest (stable) releases
and generally works like a charm out of the box -- can't say that about
certain commercial OSs for the PC platform....

--
Jeff Kletsky
San Francisco, CA

by **Dave Seyst** » Tue, 25 Nov 1997 04:00:00

Quote:>I am becoming more and more disgruntled with Slackware all the time. I
>just got my latest releast (3.4) in the mail. It seems to be exactly
>the same as 3.3! What's the deal? Am I supposed to go through that
>incredibly ancient upgrade process only to end up with basically the
>same thing?

Actually, you either regret purchasing a subscription from a specific
vendor or have no reason to upgrade. Try to understand your choices and
accept the responsibility for them before you spew irrational nonsense to a
worldwide, public forum. Slackware is not your problem.

Dave

by **David J. Toppe** » Tue, 25 Nov 1997 04:00:00

> Well, it *does* fix the major security bug described in CERT Advisory CA-97.22,

> http://www.cert.org/pub/advisories/1997/CA-97.22.bind.html

Ok ... that is significant.

Quote:> updates several major libraries and utilities, and even a couple of
> bug-fixes. Ok, so the kernel is the same, BUT THIS IS NOT THE FAULT OF
> THE Slackware FOLKS! It was the latest kernel available at the time they
> went to "press."

I was not completely sure that the Slackware folks had a regular schedule for
coming out with new releases. I was under the impression that it was "a couple of
times per year."

Quote:> So take it easy on the Slackware guys, they make a good product at a
> reasonable price which is kept current with the latest (stable) releases
> and generally works like a charm out of the box -- can't say that about
> certain commercial OSs for the PC platform....

Yes, I've been a Slackware fan since kernel 1.0.x It's just that I've been
suffering through new installs lately and am really resenting their lack of a
better install script as well as a lack of an upgrade utility. By coincidence, the
"newest" Slackware has just come in my mail. I wish they would have waited another
month to at least get Kernel 2.0.31 in with 3.4. I mean, I'll have to go out and
ftp the new kernel source anyhow.

Bottom line(s):

- it's lame to ship 2.0.30 with both 3.3 and 3.4
- it's lame not to have a better "install" and "upgrade" utillity

I am complaining about that lameness.

DT

by **David J. Toppe** » Tue, 25 Nov 1997 04:00:00

> Actually, you either regret purchasing a subscription from a specific
> vendor or have no reason to upgrade. Try to understand your choices and
> accept the responsibility for them before you spew irrational nonsense to a
> worldwide, public forum. Slackware is not your problem.

Irrational? I regret purchasing my subscription ... because it seemingly does not
offer a significant upgrade. That seems pretty rational thinking to me. Judging
from the increased popularity of Debian and Redhat ... my logic is apparently not
unique. Given that most other major distributions also have a "rational" install /
upgrade utility, I regret supporting Slackware with my subscription for the past
few years. I've complained to them about it more than once.

I'm sorry if I've offended you somehow, but I do not think I am being irrational.
The state of Linux distributions, I think, is a very important topic to the
community. United we stand, divided we all end up using Microsoft.

DT

by **Dave Seyst** » Fri, 28 Nov 1997 04:00:00

>> Actually, you either regret purchasing a subscription from a specific
>> vendor or have no reason to upgrade. Try to understand your choices and
>> accept the responsibility for them before you spew irrational nonsense to a
>> worldwide, public forum. Slackware is not your problem.

>Irrational? I regret purchasing my subscription ... because it seemingly does not
>offer a significant upgrade. That seems pretty rational thinking to me. Judging
>from the increased popularity of Debian and Redhat ... my logic is apparently not
>unique. Given that most other major distributions also have a "rational" install /
>upgrade utility, I regret supporting Slackware with my subscription for the past
>few years. I've complained to them about it more than once.

Seems I was right. You chose to purchase a subscription that provides
automatic shipments of a particular Linux distribution and feel you have to
install it just because it arrived in the mail. That's what you call
rational? You need a much better reason to install a new operating system
than "because it arrived in the mail." For years you have been complaining
about a poor installation program yet you continue to use it? That's what
you call rational? You need to sit down and think about what you are doing
before complaining about something that was your choice. Nobody forced you
to pursue that course of action, did they? If you are so disillusioned with
Slackware, why don't you cancel your subscription and install a different
Linux distribution? That, to me, seems a much more logical and rational
course of action. You didn't offend me, I just think you're silly.

Dave

P.S. You really didn't need to send me a email copy of your response,
especially since you posted your response to this newsgroup and neither
your email or posted message indicated the existence of the other.

Very Computer

Slackware 3.4 == 3.3!

Slackware 3.4 == 3.3!

Slackware 3.4 == 3.3!

Slackware 3.4 == 3.3!

Slackware 3.4 == 3.3!

Slackware 3.4 == 3.3!

Slackware 3.4 == 3.3!