Presentation of the Slint project.

Slint is a Linux distribution based on Slackware and Salix.

Slint inherits all Slackware features and in addition makes the system
easier to install and use for newcomers and by non English speakers and
visually impaired users.

Slint can be installed then used with speech and braille, both in text
mode and in most graphical environments including MATE.

The language chosen will be used for internationalized applications.

The Slint Dashboard centralizes access to hardware and system settings,
packages and system tools, documentation and utilities.

Tools for package management with automatic dependencies resolution and
system configuration are mostly borrowed to Salix.

In addition to those found in Slackware, Slint ships many applications:
Compiz, LibreOffice, Claws Mail, several terminal emulators, text
editors and file managers, the po4a tool for translators, document
format converters, audio applications, codecs, fontforge (font editor),
inkscape and scribus for graphics, vlc for audio and video, several
login managers: gdm2, lightdm, lxdm, OCR applications, ebook readers...

Many applications are accessible to visually impaired users a wide
choice of TTS and associated voices is included, others easily
installed, usable both in a graphical environment and on the desktop.

Several tools written specifically for Slint help administrate and
set it, like session-chooser and login-chooser.

Many more applications are easily installed as software packages through
a simple command or a few clicks. Thousands of software packages are at
your fingertips!

KDE, LXDE with Fvwm, MATE and Xfce destops and associated applications
are included and all installed (KDE being optional), as well as "light"
standalone window managers: BlackBox, Fluxbox, TWM, WindowMaker.

Slint users are notified of upgrades of installed packages as soon as
available, easily installed upon request. This keeps your system safe.

Blackbox, Fluxbox, LXDE, MATE, TWM and WindowMaker have similar desktop
panels, with a notification area and application menu, automatically
refreshed after a software addition or removal. The root menus,
displayed with a right click on the desk, also have a similar layout and
some include an auto refreshed applications sub menu. Xfce's panel has
the same panel menu.

Default preferred applications settings are provided, that can be easily
customized.

The system can be shut down or rebooted from all graphical environments.

To know more, see the links under Information in the Slint Dasboard.
and visit our wiki:
  http://slint.fr/wiki/en/start

Support is also provided through our mailing list:
https://www.freelists.org/list/slint

The Slint project exists mainly through to the hard work of the Slint
translation team and other contributors, thanks to all of you!

Thanks to George Vlahavas for his advice, tools and invaluable help.

Thanks to the contributors to the SlackBuilds.org project, who help
building so many additional software.

And of course, the Slint project would not exist without Slackware,
brought to us by Patrick J. Volkerding and contributors. Thanks Pat and
crew!

As Slint relies on Slackware, I encourage all Slint users to contribute
to its funding, and also to donate to the Salix project.

Enjoy!

Didier Spaier
<didier~at~slint~dot~fr>
