[NTLUG:Discuss] gentoo question

[MadHat]

On Wed, 2003-07-23 at 14:26, Bug Hunter wrote:
>   I tried the gentoo 1.4rc4, and finally got it installed after a few 
> false starts with grub and the kernel.  Interesting.  The documentation is 
> incorrect in several key places, causing a beginner some trouble.  Luckily 
> the live-cd image is fully functional, so you get to bang on parts of the 
> install until you get them right.

That was my issue.  Trying to follow the instructions doesn't work, and
I just didn't have time to figure it out.  And I wanted it on a machine
(my laptop) I actually use daily, so I couldn't without the machine for
long.  This has been my main issue with several distros that I like
playing with, but can't really use the way I want.


>   It does boot rather _fast_.
> 
>   I finally found the online package database at 
> http://www.gentoo.org/dyn/pkgs/index.xml.
> 

Cool.

>   Gentoo uses "emerge" which is exactly like debian's "apt-get", and 
> Redhat's "rpm," but totally different. :)
> 
>   all "emerge" packages are source code downloaded, then compiled.  The 
> disadvantage is the time to create the system.  The advantage is the speed 
> after creation.

It's very much like FreeBSD's ports collection.  A very nice thing.

-- 
MadHat at Unspecific.com
`But I don't want to go among mad people,' Alice remarked.
`Oh, you can't help that,' said the Cat: `we're all mad here...'
   -- Lewis Carroll - _Alice's_Adventures_in_Wonderland_