Pixelate:Issue 11/Geek Tech
From Allegro Wiki
| Geek Tech : Gentoo Linux (http://www.gentoo.org) | |
| Original author: | Tom Van den Bon |
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| Website: | |
| zip: | |
Contents |
Introduction
I've been playing and experimenting with Linux for a while now and I'm really starting to like it. Don't get me wrong, I'm not a linux geek. I know very little of the inner workings of Linux and I'm still struggling (or should I say, learning) alot with Linux. But, I'm proud to say that I'm basically using my new Linux setup for just about everything these days (except all my games which run using DirectX). I'm using a dual boot setup at the moment and the reality of it is, is that I'm hardly in windows anymore.
Sure you say, it's easy to get linux and use but there is so many different kinds of distributions, which one should I use ? Well, personally I'd say it all depends on how long you want to take to setup your system and how much choice you want on the type of software you want installed with your linux setup. There is alot of different kinds of software for linux, so all those windows users who say that windows is the only OS with good software is seriously wrong. The truth is that more and more software packages come available for linux and it's good quality software. And the good thing about this software ? Well, most of it is open-source, which means you have the source code and should you find any bugs in any application/software package, then you can fix the problem yourself and submit a patch to the community. Submitting patches, bug reports and comments is one way you can give back to the linux community for all the hard work they did to bring all these cool software packages.
Why am I talking so much about Linux, well, because I want to introduce you the a different kind of Linux. It's called Gentoo Linux and you can find it and lots of good support for it at http://www.gentoo.org. A friend introduced me a while ago to Gentoo and now I'm sticking to it.
What makes Gentoo different from other packages ?
Some of the cool features of Gentoo Linux is the ability to have power and control over what you want installed on your system, how you want these packages configured and more. It also uses a perfect system to keep your software up to date. Before anybody else says that their distribution can also do it, I'm sure it can but I think that the folks from Gentoo Linux has done it right and very user friendly. I'll admit setting up your own Gentoo system is not for the faint of heart, nor is it a quick install. Setting up my P4 2GHz system completely configured (with X and KDE) to the way I like it, takes me about 2-3 days. But after the install I know that everything is compiled and optimized for my system. You see, the beauty of the whole install is that it uses the latest software packages available on the net and compiles your whole system from scratch. Sounds complicated you say, and I'll agree it took me a while to get my first Gentoo system up and running.
Compiling from scratch...
Compiling from scratch is not exactly for the faint of heart, it takes alot patience and the matter of RTFM comes in alot. Luckily there are some very excellent install docs available which explains step by step on how you install everything and it explains nicely and in most of the cases in more of less plain english, what you are doing and why you are doing it. The gentoo site also has HOWTO's on most of the major software packages available for Linux.
Screenshot of My Gentoo Linux (Using KDE 3.1)
But how does it work ?
The beauty behind the Gentoo Linux system the Portage, it's basically a kind of database of lots of different kinds of software packages available for easy installation on your Gentoo system. Each package has one or more .ebuild file. An .ebuild file is a kind of install script for the software package and it makes it very easy for the user the configure, compile and install the packages for your system. The same portage system makes it easier for you to keep track of whats installed, and makes it even easier to update your software to the latest versions available. And all of this is done with only a few commands.
What about support ?
Like I said before, the main site has some great install docs, but apart from that it's got a forum with users who aren't afraid at all to help out where they can. If you do have a problem with installation or use of your system then you only need to do a quick search on the forums and chances are that someone has probably already had the same problem and someone else already have a fix or tip for solving it. For just about every questions I posted I got one or more replies with good tips and mostly pointing out a fix for it. You can also wubscribe to their weekly news letter which is packed with the lastest Gentoo news, portage news (updates to software packages and new additions) as well as lots of tips and ideas for your Gentoo System.
So it's perfect !
Well, it does have its disadvantages. One big advantage which can discourage lots of users is the fact that because all the packages are downloaded and it could take you some time if you only have 56k dialup. Another disadvantage is that because everything is being compiled from scratch it will take some time. Luckily you can also get binary packages for most of the software. If you only want to setup linux quick and easy for no-serious play then don't bother. But if you're into tweaking your system so that it runs perfeclty and if you want more control on the compilng and installation of you Linux system then I would recommend having a look at Gentoo Linux. I'm very happy with it !
Some Links
Main Gentoo Site (http://www.gentoo.org)
Gentoo Forums (http://forums.gentoo.org)
