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Source Based Distributions, Part 2

[This article was contributed by Ladislav Bodnar]

Last week we looked at general advantages and disadvantages of source-based Linux distributions and how they compare to the more widely used binary ones. This week we will take a brief tour of these projects and outline their differences and target audiences.

Gentoo Linux is by far the most popular source-based Linux distribution. It was started in 1999 by Daniel Robbins, formerly a Stampede Linux and FreeBSD developer who wrote most of "portage", Gentoo's package management system and core component. It is no coincidence that a similar component called "ports" had already existed in various BSD flavors.

Gentoo Linux 1.0 was released in April 2002. Portage was an instant hit, because it enabled software installation with a single command, which downloaded the source code of a given package, then configured, compiled and installed it on the user's machine. While the initial system installation was long and tedious, Gentoo's excellent documentation eased the pain considerably. Many Gentoo users found the experience of easy installation of the latest available software gratifying - in sharp contrast to the frustration with some of the software package management tools used by binary distributions.

Sorcerer is an independent compile-all-from-source effort started in 2001 by Kyle Sallee. The many unique ideas quickly attracted other developers; unfortunately the developer community split in March 2002, creating not one, but three different branches based on Sorcerer (the other two are now called Lunar Linux and Source Mage GNU/Linux). While the development of the three branches is increasingly independent, they share a common background in "sorcery".

Sorcery is a functional equivalent of Gentoo's portage, except that it is written in pure bash, rather than Python. In fact, the two package managers provide very similar functionality, only differing in implementation and terminology. As an example, installing a new software package is referred to as "cast spell" in Sorcerer's terminology and "emerge ebuild" in Gentoo's speak, but both accomplish exactly the same task. That's not to say that there aren't any fundamental differences. Some users who have tried both distributions report that sorcery is technically better implemented than portage and that creating "spells" is easier than creating "ebuilds". On the other hand, Gentoo excels in providing clear documentation and wealth of related resources and has a large and helpful user community.

ROCK Linux is another independent distribution started by Clifford Wolf and a group of European developers in 1998. The first stable version, ROCK Linux 1.2.0, was released in August 1999.

ROCK Linux takes a different, but no less interesting approach to building a complete distribution from source. While both Gentoo and Sorcerer provide bootable ISO images to install the base system, with ROCK Linux the initial download is a small, about 1 MB set of task-oriented bash scripts. The user then executes the appropriate scripts - one launches a menu driven system configuration panel, another downloads the required software and yet another compiles the source code. Once the build process completes (the time needed depends on the type of system being built, which can be fine tuned), another script creates a bootable CD image for installation and deployment.

One obvious advantage of ROCK Linux is that the long build process is done in the background, so your system is available for normal daily tasks and not tied up as with Gentoo or Sorcerer (unless you build your Gentoo or Sorcerer system in a chroot-ed environment, but this is not well documented and best left to experts). On the other hand, ROCK Linux tends to be less "cutting edge" and generally provides a smaller package selection than either Gentoo or Sorcerer. Also, building ROCK Linux requires a pre-existing Linux installation as a base.

Linux From Scratch, or LFS for short, is the last on this list of established source-based distributions. The project was started by Gerard Beekmans in late 1999.

LFS differs from the other projects mentioned here in that it is not a "distribution" in the true sense of the word, but rather a book describing how to build one from scratch. An existing Linux installation is an essential requirement. While the project can indeed serve as basis for a full-blown and functional distribution, LFS's main purpose is educational. Building up a basic Linux system is a great way to learn all there is about Linux internals, the essential GNU software, as well as other critical considerations, such as security or file system layout. The distribution's web site provides active mailing lists and the book has been translated to many languages.

Opinions about the merits of source-based distributions vary a great deal, but there is no denying that they can be great fun while providing an unparalleled learning experience. Give them a try and see for yourself.

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