[CALUG] Linux choices

[Keith]

Another good "learning" linux is Linux From Scratch. I personally don't run
it myself on anything I use, but I've built a few versions of it to gain a
better understanding of how the linux OS works. You work from the build
chain up, with great documentation from the distribution authors, watching
how the whole linux machine is put together.
The one popular distribution I know of that uses LFS for its production
releases is the firewall application, IPCop (http://www.ipcop.org)

http://www.linuxfromscratch.org

Keith

On Dec 20, 2007 2:32 AM, Bernard Karmilowicz <karmilow at intencorp.com> wrote:

> Hi Russ:
>
> > I want to install and dual boot another version of linux at home. I'd
> > like to backup data, share files between Windows and Linux, practice
> > web development, web deployment, scripting, have a stable, dependable
> > system, and learn more about Linux. I am a recent CS graduate.
>
> A good alternative to Redhat distros is Slackware. Since you are a CS
> graduate, you may be better served by your alternate Linux distro if you
> choose Slackware. Avoid distros that give you cheat-sheets
> (administrative shell scripts and/or GUIs) if you want to learn what is
> happening under the hood. When the distro forces you to learn what files
> are referenced by the Linux kernel, and to become familiar with the
> records and fields of those files, you will be competent with any Linux
> distribution. Slackware is an excellent learning tool.
>
> I've found Redhat distros annoying because their kernels deviate from
> the official Linux kernel source tree. The deviation is reflected in the
> configuration files, and manifests itself when you edit a config file to
> cause a behavior you've experienced on umpteen other Linux boxes, but
> find something unexpected happens on a Redhat box. Then you have to read
> configuration scripts particular to Redhat to figure out how to get that
> behavior you want since your general knowledge is insufficient, rather
> than spending those four minutes enjoying a beer. With Redhat, you have
> to learn how to do things twice - the way it is done by Redhat, and the
> way it is done by everyone else.
>
> Regardless of which distro you choose, install the software development
> packages and kernel source package included with your distro. This will
> allow you to peruse kernel source files of particular interest to you to
> gain an understanding of that part of the kernel's activity. It is easy
> to edit a kernel source file, recompile, and reboot (or reload if the
> modified code is a module) to see the effect of your modification. The
> source has lots of comments and cross-references. Many drivers I've
> looked at are also well-documented, so you don't have to be an expert in
> C (but you should be proficient).
>
> If you enjoy networking, you may find installing the application source
> packages included with your distro useful as well. This will facilitate
> edits to network daemon source files (and recompiling) as a way to
> better understand how each daemon works, and the trade-offs their
> developers made. The Apache daemon may be especially interesting since
> familiarity with its source code may influence how you write your web
> applications.
>
> Happy computing.  {:-)
>
> - Bernie
>
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