Neowin Forums > I want to try Gentoo

VRam

Apr 21 2005, 00:17

I've been messing around with Ubuntu and I like it, but I'm curious about Gentoo. I want a KDE desktop. Will Gentoo ask which desktop you want during install? What type of package/Update system does it employ and how hard is it to add new packages?

kjordan2001

Apr 21 2005, 00:23

QUOTE(denzilla @ Apr 20 2005, 18:17)

I've been messing around with Ubuntu and I like it, but I'm curious about Gentoo. I want a KDE desktop. Will Gentoo ask which desktop you want during install? What type of package/Update system does it employ and how hard is it to add new packages?
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Gentoo doesn't ask what type of desktop you want, you have to tell it.

emerge kde
or
emerge gnome
Guess I pretty much answered the second question as well. It uses a system called portage which is pretty similar to apt-get, but more similar to ports on BSD. Gentoo is harder to install than Ubuntu in that it isn't a graphical installer. However if you follow the book it's pretty easy to install actually, although people get scared off easily by a command line.

j79zlr

Apr 21 2005, 00:26

Also, be prepared for very long compile times with KDE. With your Linux rig in your sig, probably about 12-15 hours, one of the main reasons I use Gnome.

VRam

Apr 21 2005, 00:28

So I have to compile KDE before it can be used in gentoo? Should I DL the packages CD iso?

kjordan2001

Apr 21 2005, 00:29

QUOTE(denzilla @ Apr 20 2005, 18:28)

So I have to compile KDE before it can be used in gentoo? Should I DL the packages CD iso?
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Yes, you can use the package CD.

linked

Apr 21 2005, 00:32

12 to 15 hours?
I think mine only took like 6...
But yeah, KDE takes a while to compile

Gentoo's worth it, don't let long compile times scare you, go get some sun and play basketball while you wait.

EDIT- Also, package CD will save on download times, but not on compile time. I don't use it, just so it *has* to download the newest version. I recommend the same.

VRam

Apr 21 2005, 00:35

I'm definitely not going to be compiling if I don't have to. The only thing I've ever compiled is MAME and anyone can do that. I would just use Kubuntu, but its pretty much unusable due to buggy merging with KDE. Konqueror crashes all over the place. Another thing that I'm not crazy about (ubuntu) is that I can't update Firefox without breaking yelp and a couple of other packages. They're not keen on updating things between distro releases, either.

todd

Apr 21 2005, 00:56

QUOTE(denzilla @ Apr 20 2005, 19:35)

I'm definitely not going to be compiling if I don't have to. The only thing I've ever compiled is MAME and anyone can do that. I would just use Kubuntu, but its pretty much unusable due to buggy merging with KDE. Konqueror crashes all over the place. Another thing that I'm not crazy about (ubuntu) is that I can't update Firefox without breaking yelp and a couple of other packages. They're not keen on updating things between distro releases, either.
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With Gentoo, you'll have to compile most-everything, but don't be afraid of it.. it's not hard. Everything you have to do is all layed out in the Gentoo Handbook. It walks you through step-by-step what commands to use, and options for things to install.