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Absolute Linux Changelog

What's new in Absolute Linux 20191125

Nov 25, 2019
  • Based on Slackware64-current
  • Large changes to theming, also tweaked installer, trying to make bios setings and autoinstall easier for newbies.

New in Absolute Linux 14.2.2 (Dec 8, 2016)

  • The update is for the 64-bit version. Updated kernel and Xorg, as well as taking care of security and functional fixes (such as tweaks to pulse audio, network manager, battery management.) Installer also updated to correct error of sometimes not finding drives for autoinstall. All Slackware updates in current included and several programs recompiled to keep up with dependency changes.

New in Absolute Linux 14.2 (Sep 20, 2016)

  • Based on Slackware 14.2
  • Comes in a 32 as well as a 64-bit version. Same basic functionality, but most everything updated under the hood. No longer fits on a single CD -- the usual installation method is a USB stick. With this size-constraint removed, larger apps like LibreOffice and Calibre are now included in the base installation.
  • Both installers have an "Autoinstall" option, which partition and format your drive. The 64-bit version will make GPT partitions if you are booting EFI. But just as with Slackware, you need to turn off Secure Boot in the bios if it is set.
  • The apps and development libraries are more extensive than previous releases. If you opt to run the multimedia installer (post-install) you also get Openshot and Handbrake, in addition to the already installed Asunder, Audacity, Evince, Easytag, Gimp, Inkscape, pulseaudio-system-wide equalizer, StreamTuner2, ClipGrab...
  • basically a whole lot of goodies. But without the load of overhead found in many other systems.

New in Absolute Linux 14.12 (Sep 23, 2015)

  • This release is based upon Slackware Current (prior to 14.2 release). Many of the same apps and features, but recompiled nearly everything due to newer libraries (especially PNG lib.) Python3 and GTK3 transitions have begun, I suppose, as both are now available. Extra support packages will be needed by apps that do use them.

New in Absolute Linux 14.10 (Aug 28, 2014)

  • This is a "first" release based upon Slackware 14.1
  • It's been a long road back, but here it is. Everythibng has caught up to Slackware (x86), up to and including a recompile with patch for the latest glibc security patch of 20140826. Even have pulseaudio working to keep the Skypers happy :-)
  • Base install still fits easily onto a CD. If you want to burn a DVD or, more likely, plop the iso onto a usb stick -- there is also a "large" version of the ISO, which includes LibreOffice, the kernel source, calibre, Inkscape, Skype, Artha dictionary/thesaurus and several developer tools.

New in Absolute Linux 14.04 (Jan 14, 2013)

  • A version bump primariy as an upgrade for laptop power management. (I recieved an older, "broken" laptop from one of my computer-repair customers that I got working again, so I have something to test on :-) Also has latest Chrome browser, working screen locker and a few other tweaks...
  • I know this was too quick for a new release, but having the power management features work out of the box is kind of a big deal.

New in Absolute Linux 14.03 (Jan 8, 2013)

  • New kernel, a number of application tweaks and quite a few packages updatred for security fixes. Also made better use of a battery monitor for laptop use, automatically triggers a system shutdown when power gets low enough... gives user 60 seconds to cancel if they need more time to finish up. Fun is fun, but who really needs crashes and file corruption, anyway?

New in Absolute Linux 14.01 (Nov 8, 2012)

  • Several tweaks to keep things working well after large update to 10.0.

New in Absolute Linux 14.0 (Oct 2, 2012)

  • Coincides with the Slackware 14.0 release, keeping in step with libraries, toolchain and basic apps. Absolute has moved away from udisks to use the lighter spacefm file manager, which takes advantage of native kernel polling. So as always, Absolute will run fast on modest hardware. Network manager is taking care of internet connections by default. Java and multimedia add-ons need to be installed (via system tools, as root) post-installation.
  • Chrome browser is now the default (taking the place of chromium and/or firefox.) I distribute the browser with several plugins and the Chrome browser comes with a more up-to-date flash release than what is available as a generic plugin for Linux machines. If you install the firefox browser (from Extra/internet) you might want the flash plugin package located there as well. Last note about the browser -- I had briefly switched to Firefox as the Absolute default, but a couple "hang-ups" made me switch back to the Google app. Sorry about any confusion. I just like to use whatever works best.

New in Absolute Linux 13.2.2 (Apr 29, 2011)

  • Use of HAL has been dropped for newer consolekit/udisks as well as lxde's newer version of pcmanfm.
  • Code changes for the Absolute customizations in libfm and pcmanfm are included in /usr/doc for each package.
  • Devmon replaces halevt to handle DVD and audio CDs. You'll notice edits to .initrc, .bashrc .bash_logout as well as the startup file for icewm reflecting the changes.

New in Absolute Linux 13.1.6 (Oct 11, 2010)

  • Security updates and interface tweaks. Barring any last-minute bug fixing this should be the 13.1.x final.

New in Absolute Linux 13.1.5 (Sep 13, 2010)

  • Security updates including mozilla-nss package, (and Firefox, Seamonkey and Thunderbird on CD2.) Icewm menu fixes and re-arrangement and AbiWord is back in base install with gtk printing preview by epdfview (so no more abiWords crashes... right?) Also several package updates including OpenOffice, Imagemagick, Inkscape, Chromium Browser, and new default sound mixer - alsamixer-qt4. New script in menu to change screen locker mode and updated find-installed script.

New in Absolute Linux 13.1.42 (Sep 3, 2010)

  • Security update main cause for version bump. A few new applications, lots of library package updates and a wee bit of interface tweaking. Starting to feel like a 13.1.x final.

New in Absolute Linux 13.1.41 (Aug 9, 2010)

  • Multimedia Installer corrected. Want a release not to need a download to correct... also Chrome browser updated (v6.0.482.0, again compiled on Absolute with gecko-mediaplayer plugin enabled) and with 2 plugins pre-packaged (PDF reader and extensions buttton.) Also a slew of updates originating from the Slackware repo.

New in Absolute Linux 13.1.2 (Jul 4, 2010)

  • Chrome replaces Firefox as default browser. Lower memory usage, faster rendering and proper URL parsing all contributed to this decision. Firefox package is still up to date and in CD2 directory of repos under /internet. Also several security-related updates as well as multimedia installer update (needed updated url.) Also updated rox-archiver to handle .deb files (to unpack, not install...)
  • Note the Google-Chrome is a native Absolute build with blacklisting of gecko-mediaplayer plugin REMOVED. This means the plugin works. Was blacklisted by Google coders due to crashing complaints, but I have tested extensively and have not experienced these issues, so I'm watching videos.

New in Absolute Linux 13.0.1 (Sep 14, 2009)

  • This release corrects two issues. The utility for adding users was corrected, as it had failed to start due to importing a module that is no longer used.
  • A new auto-start daemon (for audio CDs, movie DVDs, and PTP cameras) was installed to replace ivman, which did not work. The new app is halevt.

New in Absolute Linux 13.0 (Sep 11, 2009)

  • This release has stayed as lightweight as possible while incorporating the best and latest open source software.
  • OpenOffice, Gimp, K3B, Firefox, SMPlayer, and many others are all on single-CD install with an interface sporting a new control panel and tighter integration between window/file managers.

New in Absolute Linux 12.2.5 (Jun 6, 2009)

  • Interface updated along with kernel, python, packaging system which is now txz-based and due to higher compression the main release contains much more than previously: OpenOffice and Java, as well as many other applications now fit on a single CD. Pcmanfm and rox have both been modified to seamlessly work with the TXZ package archives as well as the new "Add/Remove Programs" item in root menu. New volume control (now in system tray, sleeker.) New theme, more complete file type handling.

New in Absolute Linux 12.2.4 (Apr 22, 2009)

  • Updated to QT4, KDE4 support, including a working KDE4-based K3B CD burning release.
  • Updated smplayer (mplayer frontend) plus a slew of other updates and several new programs on CD2 and /extra.

New in Absolute Linux 12.2.2 (Mar 19, 2009)

  • The Linux kernel was upgraded to 2.6.28.7.
  • Autoinstall defaults to using the ext4 filesystem.
  • The regular installer gives the option to use ext3 or reiserfs instead.
  • The kernel is current the Slackware hugesmp, so it is Slackware "stock".
  • A very large number of application and library updates were made, so installing via update/gslapt is not advised.
  • ROX-Filer does not run pinboard anymore.
  • If you switch from netcofig or manual network setup to wicd usage, the rc.inet1.conf automatically gets reset at boot, so you won't get confused or have to change your configuration.

New in Absolute Linux 12.2.1 (Jan 9, 2009)

  • libgphoto2 2.4.3 updated to properly include udev rules file needed to make PTP cameras work for user accounts
  • ivman 0.6.14 updated user configuration for actions needed to make PTP cameras work for user accounts
  • wicd 1.5.8 changed NOT to run by default it saps several MB of memory if not used. If you update you will have to turn it back on in RUN SERVICES MENU or "chmod a+x /etc/rc.d/rc.wicd"
  • Pidgin 2.5.2 updated to include preferences for sound. Sets method to custom, command to "aplay %s". This was easier to impliment and maintain than changing the source code.
  • etc 12.2.1 updated to reflect next release

New in Absolute Linux 12.2.0 (Dec 17, 2008)

  • Official release of 12.2.0. No changes from rc1, testing went OK and we are at parity with the Slackware 12.2 release. Also have new website (absolutelinux.org).

New in Absolute Linux 12.2.0 RC1 (Dec 9, 2008)

  • Many application and library updates were made.
  • A switch was made from audacious/jripper to xmms/asunder for audio playback and ripping, respectively.
  • Gslapt and slapt-get were preconfigured for the Absolute repository.
  • GIMP 2.6.3 was included with added Script-FUs and brushes from gimphelp.org.
  • ISOs are available for both the installer and CD2 of extra packages.

New in Absolute Linux 12.1.13 (Nov 11, 2008)

  • This release was updated to kernel 2.6.27.5, including recompiles of ndiswrapper, madwifi, and svgalib_helper.
  • There were also several audio/video package updates.
  • Xpdf replaces epdfview due to the latter's fragility because of dependencies.

New in Absolute Linux 12.1.11 (Oct 22, 2008)

  • Absolute now boots into GUI by default, rather than CLI. Used customized gdm with theme based upon "applelinux". Looks really cool, less confusing to newbies. Has an emergency console, so hackers can "init 3" to drop into the console. Gdm modified to not show any Gnome options and keeps Xresources pointed to the Slackware defaults.
  • Pcmanfm has taken over the desktop from ROX-Filer, allowing proper use of "Desktop" directory. Also, pcmanfm has been modified again, adding a menu item when right-clicking on the desktop to set screen resolution (via absScreen.) Background image/color etc. are set-able from pcmanfm properties interface.
  • setsystemfont.py script updated to acommodate restarting pcmanfm when updating system font setting.
  • HTMLpage updated with a fix to eliminate "undo" blanking document when you undo one too many times. Was recoverable, but very annoying. (And scary, when first seen!)
  • GTKpod added... for the iPod fans.
  • Icewm updated to eliminate SETTINGS > BACKGROUND COLOR Is settable from pcmanfm. (Was originally hooked to ROX-Filer.)
  • New default theme. Absolute was picked on in a review as looking like Windows 98. I felt bad. But don't worry, we're not going translucent, fading, resource-hungry, eye-candy. Just a more "modern" color scheme. "Absolute Dark" -- Look who's bad, baby.
  • Dumped some old themes. Cleaned out some superfluous documentation from packages putting things like +1MB changelogs, developer APIs, etc. Need the space.

New in Absolute Linux 12.1.10 (Oct 17, 2008)

  • Printing libraries have been updated to correct output from OpenOffice 3.0 and AbiWord 2.6.4.
  • Firefox has been updated to a version without XULRunner, and seems to be better behaved.

New in Absolute Linux 12.1.08 (Oct 13, 2008)

  • OpenOffice.org upgraded to version 3.0.0 on CD2, supports latest MS Office format; rebuilt AbiWord 2.6.4 against updated Enchant, libgnomeprint and libgnomecups, also includes support for MS Word and OpenOffice.org docs; HTMLpage, the Firefox 'View Source' viewer and editor has been updated to 2.0, now uses Python's urllib to grab online pages; finished testing with updated UTF-8 settings; updated XULRunner 1.9.0.3, updated and recompiled Firefox 3.0.3, compiled Thunderbird, which now replaces Sylpheed as the default mail program; Updated to Slackware 'current' with latest HAL, dbus, udev, glibc; updated GIMP to 2.6.0....

New in Absolute Linux 12.1.07 (Sep 25, 2008)

  • It is package-compatible with Slackware-current (NOT Slackware 12.1). A large number of changes include new kernel 2.6.24.7, GCC 4.2.4, XULRunner 1.9.0.1, Firefox 3.0.1 built on XULRunner, both more highly optimized over previous releases and some Firefox settings have been tweaked - on a test system it uses about 20% less memory. Please note two things: base-supported CPU is now a Pentium II and the kernel source package is now on the second CD.