Customized Linux?

bgraybr · 08-29-2009, 06:14 PM

I have a lot of programs I will never need or use. I have 4 window managers, 3 different terminals, 3 file managers, 2 task managers, etc. I tried uninstalling them but I ended up having dependency problems.

Is there any Linux distro that lets me choose every package that's going to be installed manually?

If not, how do you modify an existing Linux distro?

I know about Linux from Scratch, but I don't want to do that much work. I know that sounds lazy but I don't see any point in building Linux from the ground up when I can (possibly) get the same effect by modifying an existing distro.

syg00 · 08-29-2009, 06:24 PM

I still like Arch - base install is base. No X no nuthin' ...
Work from there.

Small, fast, good package manager - all great attributes.

karamarisan · 08-29-2009, 06:27 PM

Every distro should let you add and remove any individual packages you want to. I can't tell what distro you're using (that would have been a useful piece of info to include), but do you know how to use its package manager?

I should add: dependency problems are dependency problems, and you do not want to ignore them. You shouldn't have any trouble removing a whole desktop environment.

linuxpokernut · 08-29-2009, 06:33 PM

slackware.

bgraybr · 08-29-2009, 06:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by syg00

I still like Arch - base install is base. No X no nuthin' ...
Work from there.

Small, fast, good package manager - all great attributes.

Well, I think I just found my answer. Thanks for the help I'll see how it goes.

Quote:

Originally Posted by karamarisan

Every distro should let you add and remove any individual packages you want to. I can't tell what distro you're using (that would have been a useful piece of info to include), but do you know how to use its package manager?

I know how to use the package manager but for some reason there's installed programs that don't even show up on it. It would be a lot of work to remove every single package anyways.

Quote:

I should add: dependency problems are dependency problems, and you do not want to ignore them. You shouldn't have any trouble removing a whole desktop environment.

I removed the default desktop environment. Important programs like my package manager stopped working for some reason. I couldn't connect to the internet either, very odd.

MrChilly0 · 08-29-2009, 08:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bgraybr

Well, I think I just found my answer. Thanks for the help I'll see how it goes.

Look around...gentoo, arch, and some distros offer a "base" to work off of. I think that's what you're looking for

I know how to use the package manager but for some reason there's installed programs that don't even show up on it. It would be a lot of work to remove every single package anyways.

Did you use the package manager to install them in the first place? That may be why also

I removed the default desktop environment. Important programs like my package manager stopped working for some reason. I couldn't connect to the internet either, very odd.

Did you delete the network manager?

bgraybr · 08-30-2009, 04:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrChilly0

Did you delete the network manager?

Now that I think about it, I probably did. That was stupid of me.

Related question: The Arch install includes a network manager, right? What is it called/umm... what would you type in a terminal to start it?

karamarisan · 08-30-2009, 07:06 PM

The network manager is the kernel. There is a program called NetworkManager that an unfortunate number of programs now pull as a dependency, and that is what you nuked. You are in no way required to use this software (I don't). If you're using wired networking, I strongly suggest you ditch it and configure the traditional way through config files, ifconfig, ifup/ifdown, route, etc.; in the process, you will learn plenty about both Linux and networking. If you're using wireless, you still don't have to use it, but it saves enough trouble that it's worth it.