Slackware
Slackware family · first released 1993
- Popularity rank
- #62
- Index
- 267
- Released
- 1993
- Latest release
- 15.0
you want full control and don't mind the terminal, you write software or you prefer tested updates on a fixed schedule.
Pros and cons
Good
- Simple, traditional design
- Very stable
- Teaches how Linux works
Trade-offs
- Manual dependency handling
- Infrequent releases
- Not aimed at beginners
How Slackware fits what you do
Everyday use: Good fit
Good
- Made for day-to-day desktop use
Trade-offs
- Expects you to set things up yourself
Gaming: Not the best fit
Good
Nothing that stands out for this.
Trade-offs
- NVIDIA cards are poorly supported
- Graphics drivers and kernels update more slowly
- Steam and gaming tweaks are up to you
Older computers: Can work
Good
- Runs in about 1 GB of RAM
- Still makes 32-bit images for very old PCs
- Offers a lightweight desktop
Trade-offs
None we know of.
Programming: Good fit
Good
- Popular with developers
- A stable base that doesn't change under you
Trade-offs
None we know of.
AI & Local LLMs: Not the best fit
Good
Nothing that stands out for this.
Trade-offs
- No official CUDA packages, so NVIDIA AI tools need workarounds
- AMD ROCm isn't officially supported
Servers & home labs: Can work
Good
- Fixed releases with tested updates
- Small footprint
Trade-offs
- Mainly a desktop system
Privacy & security: Can work
Good
Nothing that stands out for this.
Trade-offs
- Usage data not checked by us yet
- Privacy tools like Tor or sandboxing are up to you
Music, video & graphics: Can work
Good
Nothing that stands out for this.
Trade-offs
- Creative apps and low-latency audio setup are up to you
- NVIDIA GPU acceleration is hard to set up
From our hand-written profile of Slackware. Take the quiz to compare it with other distros for your setup.
Rank over time
| Window | Rank | Index | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Last month | #92 ▼ 30 | 251 | |
| 12 months | #62 | 267 |
Shorter windows react faster. A better rank there than over 12 months means interest is growing.
Telemetry
Not checked yet. We only list what we've confirmed in the project's own documentation.
Rate Slackware
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Ranking from our composite index: English Wikipedia article views, DistroWatch page hits, GitHub stars and views on this site, built 2026-11-12. All of these measure interest, not installs. Release dates and support from endoflife.date (CC BY-SA 4.0). Ratings come from signed-in LinuxStatistics users.