Slackware: Crafting a Minimalist Writing Environment

In an era where digital distractions abound—endless notifications, bloated apps, and resource-hogging desktops—Slackware stands out as a bastion of simplicity. Released in its stable 15.0 form back in 2022 (with ongoing security updates into 2025), this veteran Linux distribution embodies the Unix philosophy: do one thing well, and do it efficiently. For writers, especially those tackling long-form projects like novels or technical books, Slackware paired with XFCE (a lightweight desktop environment) creates an ideal setup. It’s lean on RAM (under 500MB idle), distraction-free, and fully customizable without the hand-holding of distros like Ubuntu.

This guide walks you through building a minimalist writing rig using Emacs and Neovim for power editing, Ghostwriter for distraction-free Markdown drafting, all on XFCE. We’ll assume a fresh Slackware 15.0 install; if you’re on -current, adapt package versions accordingly. Total setup time: ~30 minutes. Then, I’ll touch on alternatives for book-specific workflows.

Step 1: Base Setup – XFCE for a Clean Canvas

XFCE is Slackware’s go-to for minimal desktops: fast, modular, and thematically sparse. If not installed during setup, grab it now.

1. Update Your System:
   • Boot into Slackware (root login or su).
   • Run: slackpkg update && slackpkg upgrade-all. This pulls the latest patches, including 2025 security fixes.
2. Install XFCE:
   • slackpkg install xfce xfce4-panel xfce4-session xfce4-settings xfce4-terminal.
   • For a writing-friendly theme: slackpkg install greybird-gtk-theme adwaita-icon-theme.
   • Add to boot: Edit /etc/inittab (change id:3:initdefault: to id:4:initdefault: for graphical login), or use startx post-install.
   • Reboot: reboot. At login (via LightDM or console), select XFCE session.
3. Tweak for Focus:
   • In XFCE Settings > Window Manager Tweaks, set “Center new windows” off and opacity to 95% for subtle transparency.
   • Panel: Right-click > Panel > Add Items > Launcher for quick editor access. Hide the desktop icons via Settings > Desktop.
   • Keyboard shortcuts: Settings > Keyboard > Application Shortcuts – bind Super+W to your editor (e.g., emacsclient).

XFCE sips resources, leaving your CPU for prose, not polish.

Step 2: Core Tools – Install and Configure for Writing

Slackware’s package manager (slackpkg) handles official repos; for extras, use SlackBuilds.org (SBo). Install sbopkg first: Download the latest from slackbuilds.org, installpkg sbopkg-*.txz, then sbopkg -r to sync SBo repo.

Emacs: The Extensible Swiss Army Knife

Emacs isn’t just an editor—it’s a Lisp-powered ecosystem for outlining, compiling LaTeX, or even email. Slackware 15.0 ships with Emacs 27.x; upgrade to 29.2 for 2025 features like native compilation.

• Install: slackpkg install emacs. For the latest: Grab emacs-29.2-x86_64-1.txz from mirrors.slackware.com and upgradepkg ./emacs-*.txz.
• Writing Config (~/.emacs or init.el):

  (require 'org)  ; For structured outlining
  (add-to-list 'auto-mode-alist '("\\.md\\'" . markdown-mode))
  (global-set-key (kbd "C-c l") 'org-store-link)
  (setq org-export-backends '(latex pdf html markdown))
  (tool-bar-mode -1)  ; Minimal UI
  (menu-bar-mode -1)
  (scroll-bar-mode -1)
  

• Usage Tips: Use Org-mode for book chapters (M-x org-mode). Export to PDF: C-c C-e l p. Bind to XFCE: xfce4-panel --add-action "emacsclient -c -a emacs %s".
• Why Minimalist? Zero bloat—runs in ~100MB, with packages like org-roam for wiki-style notes (install via M-x package-install).

Neovim: Terminal Zen for Distraction-Free Flow

Neovim forks Vim for modern plugins, perfect for SSH sessions or tiled terminals. Not in official Slackware repos, so build from SBo.

• Install:
  • sbopkg -i neovim (resolves deps like lua, libuv).
  • If build fails (e.g., lua-lpeg issues in 2025 builds), tweak the SlackBuild script or use a pre-built .txz from alien Pastures (alienblaster.org).
• Writing Config (~/.config/nvim/init.vim or Lua equivalent):

  set number  " Line numbers
  set spell spelllang=en_us  " Spellcheck
  autocmd BufNewFile,BufRead *.md set filetype=markdown
  " Plugin manager: Use vim-plug
  call plug#begin()
  Plug 'iamcco/markdown-preview.nvim', {'do': 'cd app && yarn install'}
  call plug#end()
  

• Usage Tips: nvim manuscript.md for quick drafts. Integrate with tmux ( slackpkg install tmux ) for multi-pane outlining. XFCE terminal shortcut: Bind to xfce4-terminal -e nvim.
• Why Minimalist? Pure terminal, <50MB footprint. Plugins like Treesitter for syntax highlighting keep it lightweight.

Ghostwriter: Markdown’s Distraction-Free Muse

Ghostwriter is a GTK-based Markdown editor with live preview, Hemingway mode (focus on text), and typewriter scrolling—tailor-made for immersive writing.

• Install: Not official; from SBo: sbopkg -i ghostwriter. (Deps: Qt5, discount for Markdown parsing.)
• Config (~/.config/ghostwriter/settings.conf or via GUI):
  • Theme: Dark mode for eye comfort.
  • Enable “Typewriter mode” and “Focus mode” (hides headers).
  • Export: PDF/ODT/HTML built-in; pipe to Pandoc (slackpkg install pandoc) for ePub: pandoc input.md -o book.epub.
• Usage Tips: Launch via XFCE menu > Accessories. For book structure, use YAML frontmatter for metadata. Integrate with Git: slackpkg install git, commit drafts from a hotkey.
• Why Minimalist? Single-window bliss, no ads or telemetry. Pairs with XFCE’s compositor for smooth scrolling.

Workflow Integration: From Draft to Draft

• Daily Driver: Start XFCE, hit Super+E for Emacs/Neovim, or pin Ghostwriter to the panel. Use dmenu (SBo: sbopkg -i dmenu) for fuzzy file search: dmenu_run -i "Manuscripts/".
• Export Pipeline: Markdown → Pandoc → LaTeX/PDF for print-ready books. Script it: #!/bin/sh\npandoc $1 -o output.pdf --pdf-engine=xelatex.
• Distraction Blockers: XFCE’s built-in session lockdown + slackpkg install caffeine to prevent sleep during deep work.
• Resource Check: htop (SBo) shows your setup idling at 300-400MB—plenty for a 500-page novel.

Alternatives: Other Book Writing Software on Slackware

If the above feels too CLI-heavy, explore these FOSS gems, all installable via SBo or flatpak (slackpkg install flatpak for sandboxing):

• novelWriter: Python-based, hierarchical outliner for novels. Features scene cards, goal tracking. Install: sbopkg -i novelwriter. Minimalist UI, exports to ePub/Docx. Great for plotters.
• bibisco: Structured tool for character arcs, timelines. Community edition free. Flatpak: flatpak install flathub com.github.bibisco. Distraction-free with export to Word/PDF.
• FocusWriter: Pure text with themes and daily goals. sbopkg -i focuswriter. No Markdown, but zen-like for raw drafting.
• Manuskript or Plume Creator: Outliners with index cards. SBo for both; Manuskript shines for research integration.
• Commercial Nod: Scrivener has a Linux beta in 2025 (via Wine/AppImage), but stick to Atticus for self-pub formatting if crossing to Windows.

For ultimate minimalism, chain with org-mode in Emacs—it’s unbeatable for non-linear books.

Slackware isn’t for the faint-hearted, but that’s its charm: you build exactly what you need. This setup turns your machine into a quiet study, where words flow unhindered. Dive in, write that chapter, and remember— in the words of Slackware’s founder Patrick Volkerding: “Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.” Questions? Hit up linuxquestions.org/slackware. Happy typing!