From Scratch? (was Re: Distribution Advice)

On Sat, 1 Jun 2002, David Uhlman wrote:
> one can make [one's] 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

That's a great way to tear apart a distro like RedHat and see what makes
it tick. You will learn plenty, 'tho not quite the same things you'd
learn with a totally From Scratch approach. Consider these two
approaches:

A.  Start with a 1957 Chevy Bel Air.
    Remove the engine.
    Replace one part at a time on the engine, making sure
      the engine continues to work after each new part.
    Reinstall the engine.
    Drive away.

B.  Start with a bare engine block and a barrel full of Chevy parts.
    Using only an exploded diagram, assemble a working engine.
    Find a 1957 Chevy Bel Air frame at the junkyard, and
      several "hulks" from which you can pull body parts.
    Pull pieces from the hulks and add them to your masterpiece.
    Drive away.

Both approaches have their advantages, depending on what you want to
learn.

\\/
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