Re: [Sheflug] Re: Gentoo Linux

[Alex Hudson <home [at] xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

On Wed, 2003-10-08 at 17:31, Marcus Hanwell wrote:
> >It's just another Linux distro; just harder to use and more difficult to
> >install. The hardware support will be more-or-less identical, modulo
> >perhaps some of the non-free drivers.

> That's quite a harsh assessment of Gentoo!

But mostly accurate, I think you'll find ;)

> You do have to put a little more work 
> into getting it running, but you do learn a lot in the process.

Not sure I agree with this, to be honest. It's kind of like attempting
to find enlightenment by whipping yourself. I'm not sure you learn much
beyond fixing broken Gentoo installs.

> If you are not the type who is willing/able to put in the time then 
> Gentoo probably isn't for you.

The only advantage I can see it possibly has is that it makes it easier
to build stuff from source by default. Its package management system is
certainly not 'amazing', I don't think any distro can claim that any
more. 

> It's a great distro for those who would like a minimal install

In what way? Last time I looked, minimal Gentoo took a lot more space
than minimal RedHat or Debian.

> I like it anyway ;) I don't think I am the only one...

I'm sure you're not ;) I believe flagellates have been around since the
Middle Ages, so you're in good company :o)

The problem I have with Gentoo is that it deludes people into thinking
they have more control over their system - I don't believe they do, I
think they have different control. To dismiss GUI admin utilities as
'CLI wrappers' is DOS-think, and I think actually limits your
understanding of modern Unix-style systems. 

I guess it's interesting and all, but it's a bit of a bandwagon that
people tend to jump on for no real reason. Not that I would be so cruel
as to label it MeeToo Linux / AOLinux.... :>

Cheers,

Alex.

[This is all meant mostly in good humour; I couldn't care less if people
use Gentoo ;) ]

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