Thread: I'm a linux Nub
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Unread 12-14-2004, 03:10 AM   #6
Belenar
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Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Belgium
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Vector86
Thanks for your answers. Belenar, What do you mean when you say "home-compiled"? and what can I do to learn at a faster/ more efficient rate?
There are 2 major ways in which distributions handle software packages:

1. BINARY (pre-compiled): They compile the package with the most common options and without optimalisations for a specific CPU type, before they 'ship' it to the customer. This way it will run on all x86 platforms for instance, but it will not use optimalisations like MMX and SSE, which are found in your P3. This makes the package a little slower. Afterwards you can still tweak the software to your needs by rewriting the config file, but you will never be able to use the hardware optimalisations.
Advantages: Fast and easy to install
Disadvantages: Not optimized for your needs/architecture, making it a bit slower

2. SOURCE (home-compiled): They ship source code instead of binary files to the customers. You get to decide which CPU optimalisations you want to use, communications with other installed packages will be verified, you can select exactly the options you need and leave the others out, ... This gives you full control over your installed software. Offcourse, this requires a lot of tinkering and compile time (compiling an entire system om your p3 will most likely take about 3-4 days, depending on how many packages you need). And often you will be searching through manuals to figure out which options serve which cause...
Advatages: Full control, ultimate performance
Disadvantages: Takes time (lots of it)

Hope you understand what I am writing here, because it all seems simple if you are into it, but I can imagine this seems a bit complicated if you have no experience in the matter.

Now on the learning curve... The fastest way to learn your way around linux is the following: Use the command line for as many tasks as possble. All the graphical configuration interfaces are just ways to edit text files, that are in /etc. So my advice is: configure all your apps by editing these text files, try to use Terminals instead of graphical frontends, ... If you feel confortable using the command line and you don't freak out when you have to rewrite a config file, I'd say you're ready.
Gentoo has a very nice online install manual, which can easily guide you through the install process, and a _lot_ of online guides & documentation, so I guess anyone with a bit of linux understanding and a lot of time would be able to pull it off...
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