Gentoo

[Null]

I've had a lot of fun with Ubuntu in the past, but now I want adventure. ( )

I'm thinking about creating another partition on my computer to try out Gentoo linux.

I'm curious on people's thoughts. Is it worth it? Recommended installation method? Rants? Praise?

I'm listening.

[md]

I've been running gentoo off and on for the last couple yers and most recently for > 2 months contiunous. I've found it to be an excellent distro so long as you are able to get into the basics of linux and want to put some time into maintaining things.

The only problem I have with gentoo is that occationally packages get removed from portage (ones I'm using) which makes updating world a bit interesting. A quick eic search usually sets me right though.

You might want to ask mazer or cartoon_shark or cervantes about gentoo... they being people who have tried it and found it not to be entirely to their liking.

[rdrake]

In the short time I used Gentoo, I kinda liked. Although emerging things took forever, it allowed me to customize the applications better for my system. I found Gnome ran really well when emerged from source, although that took almost a day to do.

I'd recommend you give it a try. Just remember, when reading the Gentoo Handbook, follow every step. Not doing so will lead to many headaches. In fact, some people recommend printing the whole thing off in case you run into trouble.

[timmytheturtle]

I agree with cartoon_shark, reading the handbook and following every step is quite important. If you don't want a printer, having a computer close by (like a laptop) that you can read off it's screen is a big help. Also the minimal install includes a ssh server, so you can setup gentoo (after you've booted into the system, activated the ssh server and changed the root password) from another computer which is really handy.

I've managed to get it installed on my computer that I use as a server. It hasn't had any problems (Other then some odd issue with it turning off by it's self which was probably not due to software) with it. The need to compile everything is a pain, but makes the programs run better as there built specifically for your machine architecture.

[Cervantes]

Cornflake wrote:

You might want to ask mazer or cartoon_shark or cervantes about gentoo... they being people who have tried it and found it not to be entirely to their liking.

Cornflake in a post one minute later wrote:

dcoes 11:40 count as an odd time if you've been drinking since 2pm? If not I thin is should be...

Hapy drinking everyone!

I've never tried gentoo. Too much drinking, Cornflake.

[md]

Yes... free drinks are evil... and free drinks + live music and free food; followed by really cheap other drinks is even worse!

I stick by Gentoo though. Yes it takes more work and more time; but in the end you get a computer you really understand.

[Hikaru79]

Gentoo is my OS of choice; everything has already been said, but I'll just add that one of Gentoo's strongest points is its awesome community. Even moreso than Ubuntu, I think #gentoo@irc.freenode.net and forums.gentoo.org and gentoo-wiki.com are the three greatest resources for understanding Linux in general and Gentoo in particular. Great times.

[Martin]

A recommendation - after you install, make and burn an image of the partition so that if you screw something up, you don't have to wait two more days while the OS installs again.

I'd also recommend doing a stage 1 install, you'll learn a ton more about the OS.

[Null]

I think I'm going to go for it.

Should I use the gtk+ installer on the big LiveCD or the minimal installation CD with the Gentoo handbook?

[timmytheturtle]

Null wrote:

Should I use the gtk+ installer on the big LiveCD or the minimal installation CD with the Gentoo handbook?

I'd say use the minimal installation CD with the Gentoo handbook. I've tried the GTK installer on the LiveCD and it didn't go to well. Just make sure you follow what the handbook says. Having a copy around while doing the install is important.

[Mazer]

My trouble with Gentoo wasn't so much with the isntallation, but the fact that I'd have to download and compile the source for every package I wanted. And I like to try out lots of stuff, so it'd be a real pain to spend alot of time compiling one thing just to end up going with something else. In the future I wouldn't mind using it (ie, with more bandwidth and time to leave it on and compiling)

EDIT: Why can't I spell "install", damnit?