Can u give me 5 disadantages of using LFS? Because I'm thinking about whether I should build and use it as my MAIN box.
(I know the advantages)

1) It's time consuming.
2) Package dependencies will drive you mad.
3) Troubleshooting compile errors is a nightmare.

Thats all I can think of right now, granted I only performed part of the process (the XFree86+GNOME part), I'm sure I could think of two more if I started from the beginning...

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4) LFS systems are very hard to maintain if you're not Linux proficient. There are no easy to use GUI programs like Redhat comes with to setup your hardware, configure your network and more of that. Linux has a steep learning curve...Redhat et. all lower that curve. LFS brings the curve way up again where it used to be.

Disadvantages? I don't know why you'd be looking for them, but if you are wanting a reason to not use LFS, well then maybe you shouldn't give it a go just yet.

There's a lot more advantages than there are disadvantages for the power user. Depending on what you are looking for, if you want RH with something else built in (or just faster) then LFS might not be for you.

Cool

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What does a power user do?

For me the only disadvantage of LFS is if you do not have a net connection, preferably a quick one that is always on. Otherwise you probably will not get as far because the web is constant supply of source code, and help.

A power user basically uses the outlets at any given business

Kinda like an electician, however the power user only uses power, they do not create the opportunity for it.

Nah, what I meant was someone who is more inclined to do things the hard way, to go the longest way to their goal for the soul purpose of learning more and having the satisfaction of accomplishment at the end. They are also known by their abilities from doing this time and time again.



Cool

As I said earlier, I know all the advantages of using them. And I also know there are a lot more advantages than the distavantages. Everybody is talking about it. So I just wanan know the disadvantages that's all.

No problem...

Disadvantage:
You'll learn just enough to start really jackin up your system

Another:
You need a current distro already setup to install it (with a few exceptions)

Hmm, one more:
Can cause you to lose countless hours of sleep day after day if you run into problems

Cool

That's not what i'm looking for

I really appreciate the LFS program and I learned a lot from it.

The only complaint that there wasn't enough structure for a budding linux user like me to really secure the system. I have been trying out other distro's lately to check out how they do things (slackware and Owl so far), and when I looked at the root dir of my LFS partition, there was a nice little package w/ all kinds of servers and what-not in there (I didn't put it there).

So just try to keep that in mind. The nice thing is that after a little experience w/ LFS you are so comfortable w/ a unix O.S. that it is really easy to pick-appart any other system you get you your hands on (well, I'm still struggling with the security measures that developers of Owl implemented, but I could at least set up the basics... pcmcia, network, ect.)

Ok. thanks all of u. That's quite enough information.
Once the signal 11 problem is solved, I will start to build it.

One more fairly important one .. You need to be very aware of what kind of system your setup will eventually run on because the compile options will hose you if you aren't careful (i386 vs. i586, etc)

Disadvantages... Losing sleep, yeah...

But the advantages I believe are worth the effort.
The amount you learn in the process of setting up and building your own system from scratch outways the minor inconvenience of possibly ( depending on how up to date you keep ) a week of hard slog getting everything perfect and pure.

Emphasis on pure, pure toolchain, pure c libraries, pure headers.

take a look at core linux http://coredistro.sourceforge.net/ it's basically the same thing as lfs, except you aren't ./config, make, make install everything just to get it up. they have a ./installscript. once that is done though you are on your own. the install goes well and you will learn a ton from having to add programs, doesn't even have x, so take your time and be patient.

that's about it. have fun building.

Core may be OK, but I tend to like building it bit by bit, testing
checking and logging...
Generally stay as close to the bleeding edge as possible, and tailor the entire build and toolchain to suit my needs...
All skills learnt from much doing it from scratch :-)