When I started with Linux I was told that a Slackware user knows more about Linux than anyone else. If there is a real problem ask a slackware person. Atleast in the past this was true perhaps. Now with Gentoo and LFS around does everyone still feel slackware users are the real Gurus ?

Thank You.

Vijay

Well, well well....

Slackware has been around for a long time.
There are a lot of people using Slackware.
Therefore there are many experts on Slack.

On the other hand Gentoo, seems to be fairly cool as well.
Gentoo requires one to understand the software intimately.

I think the real answer to your question raises another question

What kind of expertiese do ya want?

I'm a Slack user, so I may be biased, but this is my 2 cents worth.

George

A "guru" can use any distro and ususally has used or uses several. The read documentation and aren't afraid to get their "hands dirty" looking "under the hood". While there are a good number of Slack and Gentoo users who are gurus, just because someone uses a particular distro automatically make them one. There are gurus who use every different distro.

I am just a simple Linux user. My system is up and running and I know pretty much everything I need to keep it that way. I use Vector Linux.

However, I am also interested in Linux in General and hence my questions.

If Gentoo is good I would like to give it a try. The reason being Slackaware is different from all other distros as it uses a different package system. I feel that a Gentoo expert may know more and hence wanted the clarification.

Vijay

I'm a Slackware person, but I wouldn't consider myself a Linux Guru(yet...), but I have learned a lot from slackware, because it doens't nessisarly come with "auto configuration" programs, so you are forced to use the shell and edit config files manually. Thus, you learn a lot. But from my experience, this is also the same concept of Gentoo...

But I still preferr Slackware, it's been around for a decade.

If you really want to get "under the hood" and "get your hands dirty"

build an LFS system..........when it is done, go thru the Beyond LFS book
and put together a home server, OR make a Router, OR Music Jukebox........
Gentoo is good, BUT LFS gives you a better choice of what YOU want a
Linux system to do..........

Here is what I am thinking. I am going to attempt the following installs in order:
1) Gentoo Stage 3
2) Gentoo Stage 2
3) Gentoo Stage 1
4) LFS
5) BLFS

This is a very long term project for me as it is just a hobby. The whole thing may take me 5 years to complete. However, I feel it will increase my confidence as I start with the more easier installs first.

Vijay

Note: Here is a question as an aside. Once one knows LFS/BLFS very well, can one make their own distro ?

There´s no need to try Gentoo 1 stage at the time. Once you´ve installed any stage you know how to use all stages. The difference between the stages is pretty much 1 line to type and +10 hours to wait. For example difference between stage 2 and 3 is this: type emerge system and observe GCC spam for a long time. The stage 1-2 difference is that you have to run 1 script and wait a very long time... Don´t believe the hype, Gentoo is nowhere near "linux from scratch". Of course in theory you build the system but it´s all very automated (you´ll learn to love emerge in Gentoo)

Thanks. This is very good to know. So you mean to say that if I just did a stage 3 install of Gentoo, I would still learn how to install all the rest of them I mentioned above ?

However, in the Gentoo site it says at Stage 3 install a lot of choices are made for the user. This sounds different to me.

Also, how long will a Stage 3 Install take ? Just curious.

Vijay

I am glad that I decided to start this thread. I am learning a lot from the posts here. Also, I subscribed to the Gentoo Weekly Newsletter.

Vijay

The BSDs are said to be the Ivory Towers of the Operating Systems. What do Gentoo users feel in this regard ?

Vijay

I like Gentoo, because of that very reason that working with it, you end up learning so many valuable CLI skills. I've used Slack, and I liked it, but Gentoo is my only way to go.

What is CLI ?

Thanks.

Vijay

Command LIne

Command LIne