Gentoo:About

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Gentoo Linux is a very powerful distribution. In fact, its developers refer to it as a metadistribution, because of its immense adaptability. The project is also extending to other things, such as Gentoo OpenBSD, and Gentoo on the XBOX, and things along that line.

The Gentoo 'G'
The Gentoo 'G'

Some core features of the Gentoo distribution:

  • Support for x86, AMD64, PowerPC, UltraSparc, Alpha and MIPS processors
  • LiveCD-based installation for x86, AMD64, PowerPC, UltraSparc and Alpha
  • Enhanced Portage capabilities
  • Various optimized Linux kernels
    • Excellent filesystem support: ReiserFS, XFS, ext3, EVMS, LVM
    • Excellent hardware support: NVIDIA, Creative Labs Live! and Audigy
  • More than 8,000 applications available for install
  • Very modern GNU development environment
    • Modular OpenGL and compiler sub-system (supports multiple co-existing versions)
  • Clean, dependency-based system initialization scripts
  • New "hardened" Gentoo security initiative

If you are not sure what these mean, then this wiki is for you. We'll also go into other Gentoo topics in good depth. Soon enough, you shall become a Gentooist.

Gentoo mascot: Larry the Cow
Gentoo mascot: Larry the Cow

Gentoo is a source-based distribution. This means that all of the program binaries, or executables, on your computer are created by your own computer compiling the source code to produce binaries. This allows for a very high degree of flexibility in deployment. However, this also means a lengthy install process, on the order of two days to get a desktop system installed. However, Gentoo does support binary packages which have been built on another system, which can help cut down on that time frame.

There are some people that dislike Gentooists because some of them suffer from elitism. A notable website is http://www.funroll-loops.org . Granted that their website has some funny quotes from some Gentoo users, they tend to downplay the real benefits of Gentoo for a sense of humor. This website is a good example of how to not behave like a computer ricer.

Gentoo Linux takes a moderate degree of knowledge for Linux before using Gentoo. If you're just learning Linux, it would be wise to learn with a different distribution. Distributions of Linux is a good place to look. If you have completed the basic Linux 101 Syllabus, and wish to learn about Gentoo, the next step would be the Gentoo Syllabus.


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