Re: Debian, Arch or Gentoo?

From: Justin (me_at_privacy.net)
Date: 07/03/05 

Date: Sun, 03 Jul 2005 21:28:56 GMT

On 2005-07-03, CPUFreak91 <cpu.crazy@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>
> Hi,
>
> I'm wondering about what you like about your version of Debian, Arch or
> Gentoo Linux. I'm considering switching to one of those from Slackware.
> Thanks,
> CPUFreak91

My $0.02 re: Gentoo:

    It is a massive waste of time. Compiling from source offers
    virtually no performance increase over pre-compiled binaries;
    the only reward you will receive from a source Gentoo install
    is the delusion that you have somehow obtained a 'rare, deep
    understanding' of the internals of Linux because you've watched
    over 10 hours worth of GCC compilation messages scrolling
    furiously past your eyes.

A mostly binary install of Gentoo will save you a lot of time, but
then why not use Debian? apt-get is far superior to emerge, IMHO.

I've never used Arch, so can't speak about it.

Slackware is my distribution of choice; it was my first distribution
ever--I tried lots of others after a fashion, but always returned to
Slackware: its simplicity and maturity are unparalleled in the Linux
world.

If you aren't in the habit of wasting time to raise your 'nerd cred'
or boosting your geeky ego by spending HOURS tweaking USE variables
and staring at compiler output, then stick with Slackware.

(Oh, and Debian is nice: it's mature and down-to-earth, apt is
 great--IMO, Deb and Slack are the two best distributions out there.)

Just my $0.02.

HTH,
Justin

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