OT: "Best" Linux Distro?

Am 1 Dec 2005 17:07 meinte Jim Leonard: Well, I guess Roger got a quite pointed answer here, but for a simple start, LFS means you got to do all the steps to build a linux system on your own, while Gento prety much automated the whole process. Gentoo is an atempt to give you the friendlyness of a complete, ready to use system with the flexibility of adapting everything to your needs. Of course this is always a comprimuse. If you just go ahead and install it according to the real good made instructions (*1), then you'll not to far from what most big distris give you - still the system is not as bloated. For the installation part, ALFS (Automated LFS) is a project to create a basic install wthat can again be automated. When it comes to applications Gentoo is as easy as other full (*2) distries, just emerge, whatever application you need - chances are as good as with SuSE or Red Hat, that this app is available. LFS in contrast requires that you start on you own an look where to find the application, than gnaw your way thru the app docs to learn how it has to be compiled and why, just to find some missing flag or an obsciure library version needed to finish. Of course, after you did this you'll be way more familiar with that application then by just installing a binary. Debian belivers often point out, that their apt-get is even more powerfull than emerge, but all you get is a rather generic binary. in no way customized. Especialy the distribution via source code offers another level of security, since a given app is always build on your local (*3) machine from the sources. This you can always verify (or at least die tryin') every detail. I once had an argument wit an LFS-advocate who insisted that only LFS is secue, because you have to go thru the sources to make it work. I think that's rather theoretical if at all. If your're installing apps from scratch, you're more concerned to get it working than to double check its internals. Gentoo gives you the ability to dig in as deep as you want, but doesn't force this onto you. Gruss H. *1 - I belive there's by now even a throw a CD in and let it go version, but I never seen that, you still have to work your way along the command line, but it's realy easy and well explained. *2 - Full refers here to a distribution that gives you a fill fledged system like windows (aka SuSE, Red Hat and even Debian), not just a minimal linux or a one configuration fits all system. *3 - or on some slaves if you use distcc -- VCF Europa 7.0 am 29/30.April und 01.Mai 2006 in Muenchen http://www.vcfe.org/