Re: [Sheflug] Re: Gentoo Linux

[Marcus Hanwell <linux [at] xxxxxxxxx>]

> > That's quite a harsh assessment of Gentoo!
> >    
> But mostly accurate, I think you'll find ;)
>  
Don't agree at all - but you have obviously made you mind up!

> 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.
>  
I don't think it is like this at all. I doubt we will ever agree on this 
point, but I do think it has taught me a lot of useful things about what 
is usually done automatically and I would now be more able to go in and 
fix broken installs of other distros with what I have learnt.

> 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 also works out dependencies and takes care of that, and allows the 
automation of updating your system. Not unique I'll grant you, but done 
in what I think is a nice efficient manner

>  
> > 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.
>  
In the way that nothing is installed by default. You set your use flags 
and can use it without X etc. You can do the same in other distros too, 
but I just like this way. You can also compile binaries without 
unnecessary support for things you will never use - distros must always 
try to compile support in for everything thus wasting space.

You can also edit ebuilds without needing to learn everything about the 
compilation of a particular package.

> > 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)
>  
Now that's just baiting :)

> 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. 
>  
That's really not true at all. Portage is command line and also has GUI 
frontends in much the same way as Red Hat and Mandrake systems etc. It 
has plenty of GUI frontends and the install is becoming more and more 
automated.

> 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.... :>
>
>
>  
Everyone has their own vision of the way they like their system to work 
- I am a big believer in choice and would never try to tell everyone 
they should use Gentoo.

> [This is all meant mostly in good humour; I couldn't care less if people
> use Gentoo ;) ]
>  
Just as I will quite probably continue using Gentoo regardless of the 
opinions of others. It doesn't seem you have really given it a chance or 
know it well, but like I said Gentoo is not for everyone and I would 
never try to force it on everyone :)

I will also continue to try other distros from time to time as I like to 
keep my mind as open as my source - cheesy line :)

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