I'm new wondering if I could get an opinion

Eddi3x3 · Guru Joined: 25 May 2011 Posts: 328

I'm new to this whole linux os, I've used ubuntu for about a week or 2 but I'm not satisfied with my control over the computer; Im not familiar with linux programming at all but I heard that gentoo gives a lot of control over the computer and optimizes everything. I was hoping someone could give me an opinion on gentoo and whether I should or shouldn't install gentoo because I want complete control over my computer and I want to learn how to program in linux if at all possible. i have no experience programming in linux so I am practically a noob. Any thoughts?

Eddi3x3 · Guru Joined: 25 May 2011 Posts: 328

wow not many people here are there?

Jaglover · Posted: Wed May 25, 2011 7:07 pm Post subject:

Define "control over computer". With Gentoo you will have control over software as it is not possible in Ubuntu, true. With Gentoo you will learn more about Linux internals, true. But you can control the way your computer operates as well in Ubuntu.
Learning Gentoo cannot hurt you, knowledge obtained will help you managing any *nix system.
I'd start by reading Gentoo Handbook, if you think it's for you go ahead.

http://www.gentoo.org/doc/en/handbook/

Edit: Patience is essential with Gentoo.
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Eddi3x3 · Guru Joined: 25 May 2011 Posts: 328

I skimmed over the handbook but I wanted an opinion from someone who actually uses gentoo, it might be true that ubuntu does give you some form of control but Im the type of person who likes starting from scratch or at least as close as I can get because sometimes I have an idea for a desktop I want to have as opposed to the one given. The way I look at it, the only code I can ever understand 100% is my own because I understand my own logic for doing things, I just want a linux that can help me better understand it in order for me to learn and make my own things from scratch how i want them to run you know? I am honestly a noob at programming but I'm willing to put the effort to learn

Jazz-KP · n00b Joined: 04 Jul 2008 Posts: 38

Not sure if it's a good idea to rush for Gentoo after a week of using Linux, because it feels like you're uncertain with your demands. I don't really understand how distro choice would affect ability to study software engineering.

Honselas · n00b Joined: 24 Mar 2011 Posts: 29

Programming knowledge is not a requirement to any Linux OS. Gentoo will definitely be optimized for your computer if you take the time to figure out the right flags and will teach you a small bit about dependencies. I know nothing about programming except some VB but i've done both a LFS install and a Gentoo install. I much prefer Gentoo over any boxed distro.

Eddi3x3 · Guru Joined: 25 May 2011 Posts: 328

I just want a linux that I can configure to optimize performance, Can I install IDEs on this linux? like eclipse? I know this is a noob question but I want to be sure

John R. Graham · Posted: Wed May 25, 2011 7:27 pm Post subject:

Eddi3x3 · Guru Joined: 25 May 2011 Posts: 328

Does it have drivers to use my web cam for example? I think I might choose gentoo and try to get things rolling; I heard you guys have a great community

John R. Graham · Posted: Wed May 25, 2011 7:37 pm Post subject:

In general, if Linux drivers exist for a piece of hardware, you can install them in any Linux, including Gentoo. Sometimes it's easy, sometimes it's involved.

- John
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Kollin · Posted: Wed May 25, 2011 7:47 pm Post subject:

Keep in mind that some closed source linux binary files are 32bits only!
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Eddi3x3 · Guru Joined: 25 May 2011 Posts: 328

Thank you for the info, do u know where I could go to install gentoo from an SD card or USB cause I have a small netbook I want to install it on; If I ever get good at using gentoo I'd be happy to be a part of this community and help anybody out

John R. Graham · Posted: Wed May 25, 2011 7:54 pm Post subject:

See the Gentoo Linux LiveUSB HOWTO. However, it might be easier to borrow a USB CD-ROM drive from someone. This procedure assumes that you have access to a working Gentoo machine (or a lot of domain knowledge in order to see how to map the Gentoo-specific instructions onto a non-Gentoo distro).

- John
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Jaglover · Posted: Wed May 25, 2011 8:04 pm Post subject:

SystemRescueCd can be easily put on a USB stick and used to install Gentoo.
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John R. Graham · Posted: Wed May 25, 2011 8:19 pm Post subject:

Without a running Linux computer to assist?

Edit: Actually, the documented SystemRescueCD procedure seems simpler than the Gentoo procedure. You can just boot the SystemRescueCD on a machine that does have a CD-ROM drive and build the bootable USB drive without affecting the computer.

- John
_________________
I can confirm that I have received between 0 and 499 National Security Letters.

Veldrin · Posted: Wed May 25, 2011 8:22 pm Post subject:

Guess so
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John R. Graham · Posted: Wed May 25, 2011 8:27 pm Post subject:

Heh. So it does.

- John
_________________
I can confirm that I have received between 0 and 499 National Security Letters.

Eddi3x3 · Guru Joined: 25 May 2011 Posts: 328

can anyone help me out with Gentoo Linux LiveUSB HOWTO, I'm stuck on step 3

John R. Graham · Posted: Thu May 26, 2011 8:25 am Post subject:

Gotta give us some clues. What part? What are you trying to do that isn't working?

- John
_________________
I can confirm that I have received between 0 and 499 National Security Letters.

tomk · Posted: Thu May 26, 2011 11:26 am Post subject:

Moved from Gentoo Chat to Installing Gentoo as this is the place to ask pre-installation questions.
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