July 17, 1993
Patrick Volkerding releases Slackware Linux
Patrick Volkerding released Slackware 1.0 on July 17, 1993 — one of the earliest maintained Linux distributions.
What it was for
Slackware prioritized simplicity and UnixAn influential multitasking OS from the 1970s — files, pipes, and C shaped Linux, macOS, and BSD.-like purity — influencing how early Linux users installed servers and desktops. Volkerding has maintained it for decades as one of the longest-running distro projects.
People
- Patrick Volkerding — creator
Why it's here
Slackware is the oldest surviving Linux distribution still maintained by its founder.
Why it mattered
It helped standardize early Linux packaging and installation practices.
What it solved
Early Linux required manually assembling filesystems from kernelThe core of an operating system that manages hardware, memory, and processes — everything else depends on it. and GNU tools.
Media
ImagePatrick VolkerdingPublic domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Related
- Linus Torvalds announces LinuxAugust 25, 1991