Vector Linux
Encyclopedia
VectorLinux, abbreviated VL, is a Linux distribution
for the x86 platform based on the Slackware
Linux distribution. Originally developed by Canadian developers Robert S. Lange and Darell Stavem, the operating system is now also supported by an international community.
desktop environment. Applications include OpenOffice.org
, Java
, the GIMP
, Xsane, CUPS, Xara Xtreme
, financial applications, and others. A deluxe edition of SOHO, which contains additional applications, is also available.
and specifically designed for use on older computers with slower processors and less RAM. The Deluxe Standard Version contains the standard edition plus numerous additional applications specific to that VL version. The CD includes many extra applications which you can add to build the system which best fits your requirements. Additional included applications are KDE
, OpenOffice.org and GIMP amongst many others.
and Fluxbox
window managers. It is supplied with Opera as the browser/email/chat client and includes some of the applications found in the Standard Edition. Additional applications are available through the package manager or by compiling user applications. Light Edition is usable on computers with only 64 MB of RAM.
The SuperGamer
distribution is based on the VectorLinux code base.
VasmCC stands for 'Vector Administrative and Services Menu Control Center', and it configures everything from disk partitions to X.Org Server
. In addition to offering a GUI
interface, a text mode parallel to the GUI VasmCC is available. VasmCC has been available since Vector 2.0 was released and has been upgraded continually over the years, with the addition of GUI functionality in SOHO 3.2. Configuration tools like netconfig and alsaconf are also available in Vector.
Gslapt is a GUI front-end to the slapt-get
software management tool. Combined with lzma-compression and dependency tracking, the inclusion of Gslapt offers VectorLinux users the ability to quickly install and remove software while avoiding so-called 'dependency hell.' File compression via lzma
allows low and high bandwidth users alike to minimize download times.
, the backwards-compatible dependency-tracking extension to Slackware's package tools used by VectorLinux. VL-APT was the first, written originally by the Vector developers to serve the need for GUI package installation and management, while gslapt was written by the original developers of slapt-get for the same purpose. Until recently, either option has been viable; however, recent changes in the slapt-get packaging format have made VL-APT obsolete, and the developers of Vector have consequently promoted gslapt as the preferred method of graphical package management.
VL-APT (now deprecated) and gslapt are configured by default to use Vector's repository, which offers the majority of most users' needs. However, alternative sources, including mirrors of the official archives around the world, can be added through their respective configuration menus, or directly, through the textual slapt-getrc configuration. There is criticism, at least partially justified, regarding the size of the Vector package selection. These deficiencies have stimulated significant volunteer and developer response, and many desired software packages have now entered the Vector repository.
In fact, it is not uncommon to use the information in /etc/slackware-version in Vector to download and install Slackware packages from LinuxPackages.net, a common Slackware
repository, GnomeSlackBuild, etc.
Vector Linux uses .tlz packages (LZMA-packed), though .tbz and .tgz are supported too. Pkgtools are taken from Tukaani Linux project and are non-standard - there are improvements over standard pkgtools in speed of operation, but have not been updated for a while.
Linux distribution
A Linux distribution is a member of the family of Unix-like operating systems built on top of the Linux kernel. Such distributions are operating systems including a large collection of software applications such as word processors, spreadsheets, media players, and database applications...
for the x86 platform based on the Slackware
Slackware
Slackware is a free and open source Linux-based operating system. It was one of the earliest operating systems to be built on top of the Linux kernel and is the oldest currently being maintained. Slackware was created by Patrick Volkerding of Slackware Linux, Inc. in 1993...
Linux distribution. Originally developed by Canadian developers Robert S. Lange and Darell Stavem, the operating system is now also supported by an international community.
SOHO Edition
The SOHO (Small Office/Home Office) Edition is designed for modern computers and is based on the KDEKDE
KDE is an international free software community producing an integrated set of cross-platform applications designed to run on Linux, FreeBSD, Microsoft Windows, Solaris and Mac OS X systems...
desktop environment. Applications include OpenOffice.org
OpenOffice.org
OpenOffice.org, commonly known as OOo or OpenOffice, is an open-source application suite whose main components are for word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, graphics, and databases. OpenOffice is available for a number of different computer operating systems, is distributed as free software...
, Java
Java (programming language)
Java is a programming language originally developed by James Gosling at Sun Microsystems and released in 1995 as a core component of Sun Microsystems' Java platform. The language derives much of its syntax from C and C++ but has a simpler object model and fewer low-level facilities...
, the GIMP
GIMP
GIMP is a free software raster graphics editor. It is primarily employed as an image retouching and editing tool and is freely available in versions tailored for most popular operating systems including Microsoft Windows, Apple Mac OS X, and Linux.In addition to detailed image retouching and...
, Xsane, CUPS, Xara Xtreme
Xara Xtreme
Xara Photo & Graphic Designer is a 2D vector graphics editor created by the British software company Xara, which was acquired by German company MAGIX AG in 2007, and now operates as a wholly owned subsidiary. It was previously sold under the names Xara Studio, Xara X and Xara Xtreme...
, financial applications, and others. A deluxe edition of SOHO, which contains additional applications, is also available.
Standard Edition
Standard Edition is a freely downloadable distribution based on XfceXfce
Xfce is a free software desktop environment for Unix and other Unix-like platforms, such as Linux, Solaris, and BSD – though recent compatibility issues have arisen with regard to BSD Unix platforms...
and specifically designed for use on older computers with slower processors and less RAM. The Deluxe Standard Version contains the standard edition plus numerous additional applications specific to that VL version. The CD includes many extra applications which you can add to build the system which best fits your requirements. Additional included applications are KDE
KDE
KDE is an international free software community producing an integrated set of cross-platform applications designed to run on Linux, FreeBSD, Microsoft Windows, Solaris and Mac OS X systems...
, OpenOffice.org and GIMP amongst many others.
Light Edition
The Light Edition is designed for older computers with limited hard disk space. It is based upon the IceWMIceWM
IceWM is a stacking window manager for the X Window System graphical infrastructure, written by Marko Maček. It was coded from scratch in C++ and is released under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public License...
and Fluxbox
Fluxbox
Fluxbox is a stacking window manager for the X Window System, which started as a fork of Blackbox 0.61.1, with the same aim to be lightweight. Its user interface has only a taskbar, a pop-up menu accessible by right-clicking on the desktop, and minimal support for graphical icons...
window managers. It is supplied with Opera as the browser/email/chat client and includes some of the applications found in the Standard Edition. Additional applications are available through the package manager or by compiling user applications. Light Edition is usable on computers with only 64 MB of RAM.
Live Edition
The Live Editions are bootable CDROMs which contain the VectorLinux operating system on the CD. This enables the user to test a distribution on a system without the need of re-partitioning and installing to the hard drive. It is also possible to install VectorLinux from the Live Edition CD. VectorLinux presently has two Live Editions: Standard and SOHO. The latest edition is a preview of the Deluxe Edition.The SuperGamer
SuperGamer
SuperGamer is a Linux distribution for the x86 platform originally based on the PCLinuxOS distribution, and is currently based on VectorLinux. Focusing on gaming, it is designed to be run directly from a Live DVD.- Features :...
distribution is based on the VectorLinux code base.
Features
One prominent feature that all VL versions have in common is the standard installation of system administration applications: VasmCC handles system configuration, while slapt-get with its GUI front-end Gslapt manages software installation and removal.VasmCC stands for 'Vector Administrative and Services Menu Control Center', and it configures everything from disk partitions to X.Org Server
X.Org Server
X.Org Server refers to the X server release packages stewarded by the X.Org Foundation,which is hosted by freedesktop.org, and grants...
. In addition to offering a GUI
Gui
Gui or guee is a generic term to refer to grilled dishes in Korean cuisine. These most commonly have meat or fish as their primary ingredient, but may in some cases also comprise grilled vegetables or other vegetarian ingredients. The term derives from the verb, "gupda" in Korean, which literally...
interface, a text mode parallel to the GUI VasmCC is available. VasmCC has been available since Vector 2.0 was released and has been upgraded continually over the years, with the addition of GUI functionality in SOHO 3.2. Configuration tools like netconfig and alsaconf are also available in Vector.
Gslapt is a GUI front-end to the slapt-get
Slapt-get
slapt-get is an APT-like package management system for Slackware. Slapt-get tries to emulate the features of Debian's apt-get as closely as possible.Released under the terms of the GNU General Public License, slapt-get is free software.- Features :...
software management tool. Combined with lzma-compression and dependency tracking, the inclusion of Gslapt offers VectorLinux users the ability to quickly install and remove software while avoiding so-called 'dependency hell.' File compression via lzma
LZMA
The Lempel–Ziv–Markov chain algorithm is an algorithm used to perform data compression. It has been under development since 1998 and was first used in the 7z format of the 7-Zip archiver...
allows low and high bandwidth users alike to minimize download times.
Package management
Two graphical frontends have been written for slapt-getSlapt-get
slapt-get is an APT-like package management system for Slackware. Slapt-get tries to emulate the features of Debian's apt-get as closely as possible.Released under the terms of the GNU General Public License, slapt-get is free software.- Features :...
, the backwards-compatible dependency-tracking extension to Slackware's package tools used by VectorLinux. VL-APT was the first, written originally by the Vector developers to serve the need for GUI package installation and management, while gslapt was written by the original developers of slapt-get for the same purpose. Until recently, either option has been viable; however, recent changes in the slapt-get packaging format have made VL-APT obsolete, and the developers of Vector have consequently promoted gslapt as the preferred method of graphical package management.
VL-APT (now deprecated) and gslapt are configured by default to use Vector's repository, which offers the majority of most users' needs. However, alternative sources, including mirrors of the official archives around the world, can be added through their respective configuration menus, or directly, through the textual slapt-getrc configuration. There is criticism, at least partially justified, regarding the size of the Vector package selection. These deficiencies have stimulated significant volunteer and developer response, and many desired software packages have now entered the Vector repository.
In fact, it is not uncommon to use the information in /etc/slackware-version in Vector to download and install Slackware packages from LinuxPackages.net, a common Slackware
Slackware
Slackware is a free and open source Linux-based operating system. It was one of the earliest operating systems to be built on top of the Linux kernel and is the oldest currently being maintained. Slackware was created by Patrick Volkerding of Slackware Linux, Inc. in 1993...
repository, GnomeSlackBuild, etc.
Vector Linux uses .tlz packages (LZMA-packed), though .tbz and .tgz are supported too. Pkgtools are taken from Tukaani Linux project and are non-standard - there are improvements over standard pkgtools in speed of operation, but have not been updated for a while.
See also
- List of Linux distributions
- Comparison of Linux distributionsComparison of Linux distributionsTechnical variations of Linux distributions include support for different hardware devices and systems or software package configurations. Organizational differences may be motivated by historical reasons...