Excellent post, MasterC. Thank you.
The concept of "distro bashing" isn't new, it's been around as long as we've had a multitude of linux distributions. As you grow, you pick on the bigger guys. It not only sets you apart, makes you stand out, but it also gives you a drive, sense of "I know I'm right, even if they don't". You want to convert (or "save") people from other distros, gently and not-so-gently imparting your "wisdom".
Been there, done that.
The last decade has shown the software world how beneficial
choice can be. Let's not try to wreck that by condemning subjectively inferior models. Your garbage is another person's gold. Different people need and want different things, and there's no "right" answer. Live and let live.
I realize that the above paragraph, at first glance, looks like I'm really, really picking on Gentoo. But not at all. This has nothing to do with Gentoo specificially. I've never used Gentoo before, and I the only judgements I can honestly infer is that:
- It makes a great hobby/geek distro to use. Very active, very current, very hands-on, and many people to share your experiences with.
- It fills a niche that was growing before it even came along. Their growth alone proves that.
- They're good at what they do. Incompetence is not tolerated in this industry.
I don't mean to sound preachy at all, and I'm sorry if I do. But I wanted to formally state that Arch Linux doesn't and shouldn't threaten or oppose Gentoo (or any other distribution).
My (and hopefully the other devs') goal has been to provide a solid product that is tailored to the tastes that we have. We trust (and know) that other linux users share these tastes, and that's been shown by the growth of our user base.
Long live Gentoo. Long live Arch. Long live
choice.