More specifically, Portage. I know use flags and “optimization” are all the hype, but really, would the average user even see a benefit from customizing all their use flags? Especially a benefit that compensates for the constant compilation?

I installed it once to help grow my e-peen, but immediately switched back to Arch after watching my system compile.

Those who daily drive it, do compilation and use flags annoy you, and do you see any real benefit?

  • Hamartiogonic@sopuli.xyz
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    1 year ago

    So, that sounds like the kind of thing you would want if you’re making something like a drone or a router, and you have very limited resources available in the device. Compiling can be done by a the cluster you you have in the factory, not the feeble pi zero on the final product itself.

    However, I can totally see why many people would want to run Gentoo at home too. It’s a pretty cool idea, and if it’s cool you might be willing to put up with the drawbacks.

    • heeplr@feddit.de
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      1 year ago

      something like a drone or a router

      Highly customized/optimized Linux images certainly are one use case of gentoo.

      if it’s cool you might be willing to put up with the drawbacks

      The “cool factor” is a significant point. My gentoo laptop (which I update rarely besides browser/security updates) boots in under 3 seconds to graphical login :-)

      Compiling can be done by a the cluster

      Actually most compiling is pretty quick on modern systems (compile in DDR4 ramdisk, nvme, fast CPU etc.) I’d say, most stuff compiles as quickly as installing a binary nowadays.

      It’s the huge stuff that’s annoying: webkit, rust, Qt, boost, firefox/chromium etc. But one can skip updates easily or use precompiled binary packages that are provided for big stuff.

      Pi4 is perfectly doable. But Pi Zero won’t be a lot of fun.