Hey Nightfox!

On Sat, 28 Mar 2026 18:44:24 -0700, you wrote:

Years ago I had tried Gentoo (and I recall Nick said he's used
Gentoo as well), but after a short while I didn't want to wait for it to build all the software packages from code when it installed. I think
there was a noticeable performance advantage doing that, but it was a
fairly small advtangage, and IMO not raelly worth waiting so long for packages to build.

I'm in complete agreement here. Except the only performance advantages of compiling everything from source is if you actually went out of your way to specify optimizations specific to your system. By setting your "CFLAGS/CXXFLAGS" keywords and "USE" flags, you could leave out a lot of bloat you don't need, which may have ended up with smaller binaries and better performance.

I never really noticed any of that, though.. because I was always too busy !@(#*& compiling. While I enjoyed it for awhile, and it taught me a lot when first starting out with Linux, it got old. :D

Regards,
Nick

... Sarcasm: because beating people up is illegal.
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Re: Re: TERMinator
By: Nightfox to Tiny on Sat Mar 28 2026 06:44 pm

build all the software packages from code when it installed. I think there was a noticeable performance advantage doing that, but it was a fairly small advtangage, and IMO not raelly worth waiting so long for packages to build.

I run Gentoo on desktop and server systems and have on and off for many years. From my understanding and anecdotal evidence I think there's little performance impact *on the whole*. But over time, there's a few things that have kept bringing me back to Gentoo - those being: a nearly perfect rolling release distribution (nearly, in that there have been a few trouble spots in the more distant past), lightweight as appropriate - where many software features are not included at all unless enabled at compile time, but maybe the best feature that I've appreciated more over the years is it's package and build management that allows me to fix minor issues with software versions easily, include my own packages if I am so ambitious, etc. in a much easier to deal with setup than any of the binary packaging systems that I've seen.

I have never found the compile time issue to be an issue for me on a server deployment - compiles can, by choice, take a long time and use minimal resources in the background on updates, which generally isn't an issue for me. Certain packages I set to compile a little quicker so I'm there once the update is installed to review the new version of the service, be able to roll back relatively quickly, etc.

Desktop systems I use distcc or a build host, and try to let things roll over night on the big bunches of updates.

As much as I like Gentoo - I generally wouldn't advocate for others to install it unless they are really looking for this particular type of system that gives much flexibility and control, at the cost of patience around package building.

When I get a laptop ready for someone other than me, it's Debian. :)
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Hi Accession,
On <Sun, 28 Mar 26>, you wrote me:

HAHAHAHAHA! I'm just here to help, brother. ;)

Thanks for that! ;)

As much as I wouldn't want to add more to your plate, you would
probably enjoy Slackware or FreeBSD, too, given your description

I've run them both. Since I do enjoy the odd game and I don't have
time to play for 6 hours before it launches I think I'll stick with
this setup. ;)

Glad you ended up liking it, though!

Honestly me too. It's the right amount of work for me, can tinker
or not depending on mood.

... When in doubt, predict that the trend will continue.


* SeM. 2.26 * As confused as a baby at a topless bar.
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Hey Tiny!

On Mon, 30 Mar 2026 05:45:28 -0500, you wrote:

As much as I wouldn't want to add more to your plate, you would
probably enjoy Slackware or FreeBSD, too, given your description

I've run them both. Since I do enjoy the odd game and I don't have
time to play for 6 hours before it launches I think I'll stick with
this setup. ;)

While I'm not sure about Slackware (I would assume so), FreeBSD has a binary package management system now, too. I gave it a try in a VM and was able to get things going just as quickly as Arch, up to and including a full desktop environment.

I'm just so used to Arch by now, that while I don't mind tinkering with other stuff, I always delete it and go back to my go-to. ;)

Honestly me too. It's the right amount of work for me, can tinker
or not depending on mood.

Exactly!

Regards,
Nick

... Sarcasm: because beating people up is illegal.
--- GoldED+/LNX 1.1.5-b20260304
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Hi Accession,
On <Tue, 30 Mar 26>, you wrote me:

While I'm not sure about Slackware (I would assume so), FreeBSD has a binary package management system now, too. I gave it a try in a VM and
was able to get things going just as quickly as Arch, up to and
including a full desktop environment.

Yes I have used FreeBSD in the not too distant past. I like it however
it's a bit lacking when it comes to running games.

I'm just so used to Arch by now, that while I don't mind tinkering
with other stuff, I always delete it and go back to my go-to. ;)

I still tinker. But yeah arch just works, I cheat and use the install
program now as well.... I'm lazy.

... If the shoe fits . . . it's the wrong colour


* SeM. 2.26 * As confused as a baby at a topless bar.
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Hey Tiny!

On Tue, 31 Mar 2026 05:28:30 -0500, you wrote:

I still tinker. But yeah arch just works, I cheat and use the install program now as well.... I'm lazy.

I can't disagree there, either. I setup a Virtualbox VM just to test the latest install .iso, while using 'archinstall' to install a base system, a full plasma desktop, and some extras (which took all but about 10 minutes or so). I was kind of excited when it was done; it rebooted and came right up into sddm, with everything there and working flawlessly.

I must admit, the work they've done on that installer is outstanding. Since I've already installed many times via the original way, I don't need to learn any more. That script is the beez knees! :D

Regards,
Nick

... Sarcasm: because beating people up is illegal.
--- GoldED+/LNX 1.1.5-b20260304
* Origin: _thePharcyde telnet://bbs.pharcyde.org (Wisconsin) (21:1/200)

Hi Accession,
On <Wed, 31 Mar 26>, you wrote me:

I must admit, the work they've done on that installer is outstanding.
Since I've already installed many times via the original way, I don't
need to learn any more. That script is the beez knees! :D

It really is quite slick! I insalled it the original way twice while
learning, and once I knew what I wanted I used the installer. If they
removed it tomorrow I would be able to go back, but I wouldn't be happy
about it. hahaha

... Real knowledge is to know the extent of ones ignorance.


* SeM. 2.26 * As confused as a baby at a topless bar.
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Re: TERMinator
By: Tiny to Accession on Tue Mar 31 2026 05:28 am

I still tinker. But yeah arch just
works, I cheat and use the install
program now as well.... I'm lazy.

I've settled on Endeavour OS
personally. Arch-based distros just
feel right.


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