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Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).

Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.

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Does anyone actually use Gentoo? Why? (sh.itjust.works)

submitted 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago) by ayyo@sh.itjust.works to c/linux@lemmy.ml

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Just wanna preface, I'm not trying to like attack Gentoo or anyone that uses it, I just wanna understand lol

I'm like an intermediate Linux user I'm definitely not an expert, and Gentoo is something I'm still quite confused about. To me it just seems unnecessary, like the real version of people making Arch just seem incredibly complicated. Does anyone actually use it as a daily driver? Why? Is it just for the love of the game? Is there some specific use case I've not heard or thought of?

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[–] PetteriPano@lemmy.world 14 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago)

I ran it 2003-2006ish.

Having a package manager that updates online was a game changer for Linux distributions.

I had been using slackware for 6 years prior, and there was no real update path. Best case you'd just get the latest release on CD and install it over your (hopefully) separate root partiton.

Conpiling all your stuff sounded like a good idea in the age of the architecture options at the time. Alpha, Crusoe, PowerPC, SPARC and MIPS were all viable options.