I remember a time when using linux you really needed to be a geek. You had to compile from source code, handle dependencies, configure hardware and configure the X server. It seems like today's distros have taken the challenge and fun of DIY ( Do It Yourself ).

Not at all, there's still LFS for those that want that.

But in order to be successful in the enterprise (where companies really want to succeed), you need to avoid everything that makes it DIY. Therefore all the major companies backing linux have made distro's that are easy to install, configure and maintain. Because they want to make money, not just make people happy (which doesn't pay the bills).

I guess you are right. People just need it to work now!

LFS is over the top for me. Don't have the time to build completely.

However, a distro that can meet me halfway like slackware is good. I can install a base system and compile programs and do some configuration.

And Slackware will probably never change that. He's not really all that interested in commercial success, so has no real reason to make Slackware any more attractive to business customers than it is.

With the amount of questions we see on this site, I think it is still somewhat a geek way to go.

You misunderstood. I was using slackware as an example for personal usage, not for business or enterprise. Just for folks who want little hand holding as possible

True, but if you consider PCI, USB, video (EDID) standards and better software the typical desktop with a standard keyboard mouse etc can be automatically configured without a xorg.conf file. A lot of the main stream hardware is supported in the latest kernel.

Now back in the ISA days one did have to keep track of hardware configurations like memory address and IRQs...

Whereas nowadays it's much easier to get stuff done and learn by using it. It depends on how you set your installation up - you choose between an easy to use but limited system or one where you DIY to do the job exactly how YOU want it. Actually, it's the distribution of choice in my (small) business.

my sediments exactly Linux is starting to trun into Windows

You should have went Slackware dude ~ if ya want to get back to what you discribed.

though there are some distro's that you can still compile and install everything if you wnat to, if not all of them, some you just might have to strip down first after you install them is all.

it is nice to have a little bit of both worlds though, repo you can get stuff and still be able to fall back to compile, make, make install ..

Hardware detection (including X) is definitely more automatic now. And that's across distributions.

I agree that Slackware strikes a good balance.

Stuff works better now than it did in 2005 when I started using Linux.

I fail to see a problem.

Regardless of the distro you use, if you want to eschew the GUI tools and dive under the hood, you are free to do so.

Please note that some people use their operating systems to actually do stuff. Long gone are the times where I actually had time and energy to tinker with my system for the sake of it. Now, I spend a few hours to configure Slackware once it's released and then I do not want my system to get in the way for the next few years.

As it's always said, Linux is about the choice. There are distros which will require you to constantly tinker with them. There are ones which will make it easy for you. I'm glad I'm not forced to spend days to configure my printer or wifi. At the end of the day, OSs are just platforms to do other stuff. They are not goals on their own. Or as someone said: operating systems are just bootloaders for Emacs.

yeah driver support is def more better then when Linux first started -- got a give ya that...

We have Corporate sponsership becuase it works. We have easy because for some of us it is not about you, me, or any corporation, but about a young girl in east Africa that has had electricity for only 26 months and is engaged in writing graphic programs that will blow you away. For her, it has to be easy, dependable, fast, and forgiving. She will rule us all. Someday.

OSS :
huh? what you talkiin bout willis?