After a hiatus of four and a half years, Patrick Volkerding has announced the commencement of alpha testing for the distribution kit Slackware 16.0. With origins dating back to 1993, Slackware is currently the oldest active distribution in existence. Known for its straightforward approach and simplistic initialization system, Slackware serves as an ideal platform for individuals looking to delve into the world of Unix-like systems, conduct experiments, and gain familiarity with Linux.
Interested users can obtain the installation image for Slackware 16.0, sized at 5.3 GB for x86_64 architecture, from the official website. Additionally, a 6.1 GB Live mode build is available for those who wish to run the distribution without installing it on their systems.
Among the notable changes in this release include the rebuilding of the package database using GCC 16.2, along with updates to key system components such as Linux kernel 6.18.49, glibc 2.44, and binutils 2.47. These enhancements aim to improve performance, security, and overall user experience with Slackware 16.0.