Slackware’s package management system is simple and unique compared to other Linux distributions. It emphasizes minimalism and user control over automation. Here are the key features:
.tgz, .txz, or .tbz for gzip, xz, and bzip2 compressed packages, respectively). These contain binaries, configuration files, and metadata.Slackware uses a few core utilities for package management:
installpkg: Installs a package.
installpkg package-name.tgz
removepkg: Removes an installed package.
removepkg package-name
upgradepkg: Upgrades an installed package.
upgradepkg package-name.tgz
pkgtool: A menu-driven tool for managing packages, like installing or removing packages.
wget https://slackbuilds.org/slackbuilds/package-name.tar.gz
tar -xzf package-name.tar.gz
cd package-name
./package-name.SlackBuild
Slackware does not automatically handle dependencies. Users must manually ensure that dependencies are installed for a package to work. This is intentional, as it gives more control to the user but requires more knowledge and responsibility.
Tools like slackpkg and third-party tools such as sbotools, slapt-get, and sbopkg can assist with package management and offer some level of automated dependency handling if desired.
slackpkg: Included in Slackware, it helps manage official packages for upgrades and installations from official repositories. It’s useful for keeping the system up to date.slackpkg update
slackpkg install-new
slackpkg upgrade-all
Users can create their own packages using Slackware’s SlackBuild scripts. These scripts automate the process of configuring, building, and packaging software from source. This allows for extensive customization and optimization for specific needs.
Several third-party package managers are available to provide features like automatic dependency resolution (not native to Slackware):
slapt-get: Adds Apt-like functionality, including optional dependency resolution.sbopkg: A command-line tool that automates the process of downloading, building, and installing packages from SlackBuilds.org.Pros:
Cons:
This system gives advanced users a lot of control and transparency but demands a deeper understanding of the system.