I agree with the other authors note about "linux from scratch" from a
conceptual perspective, however I think that linux from scratch is somewhat
"outdated" to todays types of distributions. I think that one can make there
own LFS from a stock redhat or mandrake etc. Start with an installed copy of
the base system on a clean drive and build package by package until you get
where you want to go, perhaps change bootloaders ie lilo to grub for extra
credit. Examine carefully settings and configurations for each peice of
software and recompile SRPMS when appropriate, making a working developement
environment is the hardest part of that ususually and quite valuable
experience I might add.

Hands down, being involved in every descision is the best way to understand
linux from a little picture/big picture perspective.
You may also be interested in taking a look at gentoo linux which dl's and
compile a complete distribution. Very unique, interesting and powerful.
gentoo.org

hope it helps.

Sincerely,
David Uhlman
CTO 50km Inc.
office(877-571-7679)
mobile(602-770-9551)
fax(509-752-3882)
email(duhlman@50km.com)
----- Original Message -----
From: "Matt Wyant" <me@zanfar.com>
To: "PLUG Discussion List" <plug-discuss@lists.plug.phoenix.az.us>
Sent: Thursday, May 30, 2002 9:44 PM
Subject: InstallFest / Distribution Advice


>
> I've always been attracted to GNU/Linux because of it's configuration
> and manipulation options. I've played with the Mandrake distribution,
> but it wasn't any fun because I didn't have to do anything. I need a
> distribution that will force me to learn all the dirty details. From
> what I've gathered online, Slackware is just that. A powerful,
> configurable, advanced distribution. I have two questions:
>
> A) Am I jumping in over my head? I'm very proficient with computers,
> I've been programming since before junior high with various flavors of
> basic and c. I'm certainly not daunted by the shell, command line, or
> non-graphical interfaces, in fact, they hold some sort of sick romantic
> draw for me. Should I start with a more user-friendly distribution or do
> you think I can handle Slackware?
>
> B) I read about the upcoming InstallFest June 22nd. I am very
> interested, and will probably attend if I haven't gotten this figured
> out by then (I'm pretty busy, so that's a definite possibility). I know
> I need to drag my tower, monitors and cables along, but do I need to
> bring a distribution?
>
> I will be installing to a swappable primary drive, so loss of
> productivity and time is not a problem during installation. I want to
> cut my teeth on my workstation, and then eventually run
> samba/apache/mysql on my (currently) file server. I've got a dual
> Pentium III 1.0Ghz with dual monitors. I do a lot of web and SQL
> development, as well as audio/video editing. Is any of this going to
> pose roadblocks? Is there anything I should know before I dive in?
>
> Just looking for a little friendly advice and counseling.
>
>
> "Three o'clock is always too late or too early for anything you want to
> do."
>  -- Jean-Paul Sartre
>
>
> matt wyant | friend, gentleman, scholar
> zanfar@nospam.zanfar.com | http://www.zanfar.com
>
> Tempe, AZ
>
>
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