this post was submitted on 24 Aug 2023
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Linux
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Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).
Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.
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Gentoo. There's way better methods to learn Linux, compiling, and the filesystem hierarchy standard. Start with Linux From Scratch and go from there.
LFS doesn't give you a usable system in practice though. A distribution is nothing without package management.
Gentoo gives you a thorough course in Linux fundamentals, and has lots of other benefits. Forget the mild gains of compiling for your specific CPU, it's really all about the incredible flexibility of Portage.
Exactly.
I know people running systemd AND OpenRC on their Gentoo installs. Gentoo is a metadistro. It gives you the tools to build your own distro. SO in comparison to LFS, Gentoo is pretty similar. It's just the tools that differ (although one can use Portage with LFS...)
I basically learned everything Linux related from using Gentoo.
I can't imagine why someone would want both init systems; that's awesome.
I also know few cases of runit+OpenRC.
IIRC one of those support having an external service manager...
There are also few s6 users. I've kepts things quite simple with OpenRC+openrc-init.
Yeah but which one teaches you more about how Linux works, versus how this distro works ? Linux isn't a package manager.
The kernel isn’t, but distros, as people think of Linux, kind of are package management projects.
LFS surely teaches more, but not by much.
Portage lets you see down into the proper guts of Linux deployment. It's much more applicable knowledge than almost any other distro. Plus, the install and maintenance teach non-specific fundamentals as well.
LFS gives a bit more learning and an utterly impractical OS for real life.
Gentoo teaches slightly less, and gives you an extremely robust and flexible OS.
Why are you implying using Gentoo only makes sense to learn Linux?
I'm not implying that. I am implying that Gentoo is overrated as a distro. See, the title of the thread.
the whole user demographic is like 5 dudes. I agree why go for Gentoo when you can go for Linux from Scratch. Maybe simply because it has a catchier distro name
Gentoo installs are able to be maintained.
LFS not so much.
... unless you install a package manager, which turns LFS into an another distro. 🤷
Or you could start with something which already has a package manager.
LFS is fun weekend project, but it’s not a daily driver.
When I started thinking about the amount of work needed to maintain an LFS install, I realized I should install Gentoo. It’s Source based, and other people already put in the work.
Agreed. It'll teach a lot, but to make it last longer, you want a package manager.
Gentoo is a metadistro - a set of tools to build your own distro. LFS is a documentation to build your own Linux system. And if one chooses to install some package manager and configure a repo for it, it basically becomes a distro. LFS can become Gentoo if you choose to install Portage and use Gentoo repository.
Setting Gentoo up seems to be quite simpler option compared to LFS. Sure LFS might teach you even more than Gentoo.