Emerge --newuse (-N) gives loads of USE="X%*" or (-X%*)

[pfadt_mann]

Ok, the when you emerge xxxxxx each package, at least the majority of the packages, have a USE flag list. If each package doesn't ned them, the what are they listed by package and just what do they do.

I have read the USE Flag guide and here is what I understand.

The USE flag allows to to not install unnecessary things, they give the example of opengl. If you don't use them, then why have all that extra baggage in the compilation. So, if this is the case, there is a use list for each package in portage somewhere. I think this is probably a good idea if you new what each package required for you particular machine.

So, for all of us that understand a bit but not all and don't have a lot of extra time on our hands to delve into this deeply, but yet what a system that truly supports us better that Windows, our even RedHat, Kbuntu ... etc, couldn't there be an easier way to deal with USE Flags?

Gentoo is a very powerful distribution of linux, more so than any other distro I have seen, but it does take some getting use to and a while to install and configure. Much longer than other distributions.

I guess my point is this, the social contract states:
"Gentoo, the operating system, is derived from the base concept of knowledge described above. A Gentoo operating system should satisfy the self-hosting requirement. In other words, the operating system should be able to build itself from scratch using the aforementioned tools and metadata."

But yet, because there are so many options, the though of a self installing system is just not feasible.

The Philosophy of gentoo states:
"The goal of Gentoo is to design tools and systems that allow a user to do that work as pleasantly and efficiently as possible, as they see fit ... If the tool forces the user to do things a particular way, then the tool is working against, rather than for, the user."

And goes on to say...
"The goal of Gentoo is to strive to create near-ideal tools. Tools that can accommodate the needs of many different users all with divergent goals."

I can see a lot of hard work being done at gentoo to make a better distribution. However, the it benefits programmers and hobbyists, not those who want a better product so they can be more productive.

I have found gentoo to be a very worthy tool, once I get it working. However, understanding the quirks of the USE flags and have to build all the packages takes a lot of time and that leaves a lot of us struggling.

So when you say, the packages don't use the use flags, portage does, all I understand is that you see us n00bs as a nuisance and don't want to deal with anything that slows you down. There are people out here that believe in your cause, we just don't have the resources, time or skills to pitch in. We could do a lot by spreading the word and product, if it was a bit more user, or should I say n00b friendly.
_________________
Pfadt Mann

[UncleOwen]

[pfadt_mann]

I left out some of the actual paragraph in my post above, but here's the whole thing:

"Gentoo, the operating system, is derived from the base concept of knowledge described above. A Gentoo operating system should satisfy the self-hosting requirement. In other words, the operating system should be able to build itself from scratch using the aforementioned tools and metadata. If a product associated with an official Gentoo project does not satisfy these requirements, the product does not qualify as a Gentoo operating system."

Like I said, I am a n00b to gentoo so I don't see the difference in self-hosting and self-installing by this paragraph.

If I had the resources, I would jump in with both feet but I don't. I am just trying to get a laptop and a couple other computers that will work and allow me to pursue other endeavors.

I also talked about the Philosophy of the tools being a "joy to use". Al though I can see the power gentoo can enable once it's up and working, getting it to that point is anything but a joy.
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Pfadt Mann

[rasmus]

Personally, I would want some additional flag that made emerge only rebuild packages where I have explicitly changed some USE flag, not those where it has happened atomagically, ie only where -pvDN shows things like "blah*" och "-blah", but not "bleh%", "-bleh%*" or bracketed flags. I know some clever sed/grep hacks can do it, but jst having a switch on the emerge command line would be better.

[hayalci]

Newer portage versions have the following option

[BMintern]

[bekyarov]

[bonzai.it]

I agree: