I've recently started using Linux and, ofcourse, had some nice errors, warnings etc. but afterall I managed to get Gentoo (stage1) up and running. This with the help of some threads I've read, so thanks for all the chaps here I've had the pleasure of reading their solutions.
Now, it has been quite different compared to windows, especially the way directories and files are managed. I still don't know where I should put what!
I am still having problems getting OpenGL to work, amongst several other annoyances, but one thing's for sure; I'm not going back to windows.

Now, while installing Gentoo I've had their manual at hand, which really helped me getting through the process. Also, afterwards, it helped me setting up the Gnome desktop and such.

But, I've been screwing around putting files in dirs I don't think they should belong there, did very horrible things while trying to get openGL to work (with no success goddamn ) and many many more
But no worries, I'm planning on reading some stuff about managing Linux and Gentoo in particular, and in a couple of weeks I'll probably format and start anew. Now I know I can easily unmerge some things etc etc but I just want to do so, getting it right from the start.
Right, now I've wrote a page without even telling you lads what this thread is all about

Well, I have these confusions I want to get rid of before starting all over again. Probably there are articles about the questions I'm about to ask but I haven't found them yet.

So I'm planning on installing Gentoo anew and putting KDE on it to handle the GUI part.
Now, reading the docs at Gentoo, I'm wondering: in one of those docs they say I should emerge xfree and afterwards emerge gnome/kde/... But in another doc they are talking about installing xorg and how its +- the same. Should I emerge both, or only one, and in that case which one?

Then, about the filesystem. I've seen many people using reiserfs. The manual says its much better for small file handling, but how do I know if I'll be needing that? I'm mostly using my pc for programming, music, typical fooling around and gaming. Gaming will require large files (>4KB) but programming won't necessarily. Also, what are the opinions on the boot filesystem? I'll probably use a default configuration, so boot, swap and the rest.

Moving on to USE-flags. In this installation I just put use-flags I though I'd like; java, apache2, mysql, opengl, jpg, png, mpeg,... but in what way will this bring any good and which ones should better be left out?

I think I still have a bazillian questions to ask, though I'll try as much to search these fora and the net, but I kinda really need advice on the questions asked here.
So thanks in advance!

If this is your first Linux experience, using gentoo is like learning to swim jumping off the deep end. I don't want to dissuade you, but just maybe you might want to use an easier distro first, learn the basics and then have another try with Gentoo.

Once I heard that Gentoo was a bit harder to learn I thought it would be best to do so, so I could learn much from it (and probably also getting quite fed up once something's not working ). Besides, I've had a course UNIX this year, so I know my way around the shell. It's really more about things like the filesystem and optimal handling the OS.

Happy learning!

Yes well I might actually need some assistance with setting up these things
So if anyone could cast his/her vision on the questions asked, that'd be great.

well considering nobody answerred his questions i'll take a stab at it...

1) xorg-x11 is a fork of Xfree86, many people are switching over to it because of licencing ussues. Xfree86 doesn't comply to GPL standards whereas xorg-x11 does. You only need 1 xserver, so you may as well move to xorg-x11 as it is now in the current tree in gentoo whereas xfree86 no longer isnt. Before you install any window manager or desktop environment you should emerge your xserver, then kde or gnome, fluxbox or whatever you plan on using.

2) Resierfs is a fast file system and handles file structures very well, the only negative is when it comes to file recovery. Ext2 performs better in that field. You could always have a /boot of ext2 and you / and whatever else you want to mount as reiserfs. I personally use reiserfs.

3) USE variables are your choice, you can always tell how you want to optomise a pkg by "emerge --pretend --verbose pkgname" , by doing this you'll see how you can optomise a pkg and see what it supports. So if you see anything which you want to add or take away just go back to your /etc/make.conf and edit it.

I think Gentoo is a perfect OS for beginners because it doesnt make you lazy.

If you're willing to put up with the frustrations of actually LEARNING a new OS, then Gentoo is the perfect OS to start on...but I wouldn't normally recommend it to newbies because it does have such a high learning curve and the tendancy is for most newbies to want stuff to work right out of the box.

I started out using Red Hat as my first Linux OS, then moved to Slackware as my primary Linux OS. I was very glad that I did...Slackware forced me to actually learn how my OS worked. If I had started out with Slack, I may have given up in frustration. For most people, I would recommend the same--start out using an easier distro to get the feel of Linux, then switch to something a bit harder to hone your skills.

well, the gentoo handbook is so good and well commented, i sometimes wonder how people can go wrong... its just my opinion

Thanks for the answers, they're really getting me closer to deciding what and what not to implement.

I do have a small question on the xorg-x11 xserver. Its a branch of xfree86, so does that mean that drivers and such (sa. the ATI gfx drivers) who only support xfree86 will also work on the xorg-x11 xserver?

Oh and something small: the gentoo handbook says that if you should install Gnome you should have the USE-flags "gnome gtk". Using KDE one should have "kde qt". But... gtk is used with the GIMP, so it should be no problem adding that with a KDE installation, without having too much compiled for the other desktop?

Yeah, the ATI and NVidia drivers work with XOrg. Don't know about the other thing.....

USE="-gnome gtk gtk2 qt kde alsa cdr dvd"

I have to applaud you for jumping off the deep end head first. Might not be any water in the deep end and YES you may require a few butterfly stitches in your skull butt I have always learned more from my mistakes if it hurts a little.

I find that what makes the general AOL population so dumb is that they want to take the easy way out.
"So easy to use, no wonder it's #1?"
It is that mentality that keeps the AOL users dumb.

When you get all done playing with gentoo I still would suggest learning some of the other distro's.

Nicely put

Indeed as you say it may not always go right the first time but that's the fun of computers in general, makes you think of what you're doing. As long as you don't end up with a blown HDD or something, that is