I'm looking to dive deep into Linux and I want to start with a fully manual build to really understand how everything functions. I'm torn between two options: Gentoo, which I've heard is less labor-intensive than LFS but still requires a good amount of manual setup and configuration, and then there's LFS, which demands you do everything from scratch. Which one should I choose for my learning project that balances information gained with the time invested?
2 Answers
From what I've gathered, LFS (Linux From Scratch) is great for learning, but it can be a bit tricky since it might break unless you're super careful. Gentoo, on the other hand, remains usable without the risk of breaking things so easily. So if you're aiming for something stable to use daily, Gentoo might be the better pick.
In my opinion, starting with LFS is a good idea. Many people struggle with Gentoo because it requires compiling from source and making lots of choices along the way. With LFS, you learn why you're making those choices because you'll be doing it all yourself, plus it helps you deeply understand how a system is built and configured.
Totally agree! Building it from scratch makes it super personal and probably a richer learning experience than Gentoo. I might even try creating a package manager after!
Thanks for the insight! I'm leaning towards Gentoo for daily use, just as a fun project.