14 DAY TRIAL // Slackware Linux, a complete 32-bit multitasking "UNIX-like" system that is currently based around the 3.2 Linux kernel series, is now at version 14.0 RC1.
Slackware Linux 13.37 took quite a while be make out of development, so uses mustn't get your hopes up with a quick release date for the new and improved Slackware Linux 14.0.
In any case, the biggest change in this latest version is the introduction of a new Linux kernel. The previous version was based on Linux Kernel 2.6.37.6, but the new one is based on Linux kernel 3.2.26, at least so far.
Highlights of Slackware Linux 14.0 RC1:
• The dependency on icu4c in the Makefile has been removed; • Patched to prevent a reset that causes partial printing with certain printers. • Linux kernel 3.2.26; • KDE 4.8.5; • Improper password/passphrase caching has been fixed; • Added default policy files for udisks2 and NetworkManager events; • Replaced gptfdisk utilities with the rebuilt versions.
A complete changelog that encompasses all the changes and the updates can be found in the official announcement. Users have been asked to test the distribution and make suggestions where they're due. “Mercury went direct early yesterday morning, and it was like the bugs started to fix themselves. It's almost enough to get me believing in that hocus-pocus nonsense! So, here's a bunch of updates that fix all of the reported issues in the beta, and we'll call this the 14.0 release candidate 1. Still some updates needed for the top-level documentation files, but we're clearly in the home stretch now, finally”, said the developers in the announcement.
A full installation of Slackware Linux will give users the X Window System, C/C++ development environments, Perl, networking utilities, a mail server, a news server, a web server, an ftp server, the GNU Image Manipulation Program, Netscape Communicator, plus many more programs. Download Slackware Linux 14.0 RC1 right now from Softpedia. Remember that this is a development version and it should NOT be installed on production machines. It is intended for testing purposes only.