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Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).

Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.

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Is Gentoo more-or-less pointless for the average Linux user? (self.linux)

submitted 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) by KindredAffiliate to c/[email protected]

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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?

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[–] InverseParallax 15 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

Haha, ran gentoo for about a decade.

At some point breaking your system blocks your actual work and you get lazy, hence my return to debian and freebsd.

But when you're young and have the energy it's great.

Also, the optimizations never helped that much, maybe 2-3% or so usually, which considering the raw firepower a decent workstation has now just seems pointless, compiling xorg or kde aren't going to move that needle.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 1 year ago

I wonder about the optimizations now. When I used gentoo it was an era where binaries were compiled for lowest common denominator targets. i386, ppc etc. That is they used no optimized instructions at all. It was the era where MMX and SSE were becoming a thing and there were genuine optimizations you were likely missing out on. So compiling your own stuff actually did show varying levels of improvement.

These days I'm pretty sure most binaries are detecting cpu flags and flipping on extra functionality when detected so the optimizations are less pronounced than they were.

But, I'd be interested to know if I've got that wrong. These days, I've gotten older and I don't have time to spend a weekend fixing my system when it goes wrong, as such I'm using pre-compiled distros. Often when they break I'll fall back to my dual boot windows until I have a block of time to fix it. How did I have so much spare time back then?