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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).

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Trying out Gentoo shortly. Any advice for a smooth(er) sailing? (piefed.blahaj.zone)

submitted 2 days ago by akunohana@piefed.blahaj.zone to c/linux@lemmy.ml

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I have been using Arch with systemd for some years now and I would like to try out Gentoo in order to learn OpenRC and get used to manually controlling the system with config files instead of having it all served on a silver platter with some *ctl command as per systemd.

I have read the installation guide for x86_64 systems two times now, and in the following week, I would like to try installing a minimal system (no graphical stuff).

Any advice from people that already use Gentoo? Especially things that they wish they knew before trying for the first time? Like, what not to waste time on initially? For example, to simply get an Arch system up and running, I didn't have to learn how to write unit files, but I accidentally wasted a week on that before just enjoying my system first. 😅

A few of my own thoughts:

How much time and effort should I put into fine tuning the global USE flags if my initial goal is to get a system up and running?
With systemd, I enable --nowed that which I wanted to "autostart" (iptables and sshd, for instance). Is there an equally intuitive counterpart with OpenRC?

Thanks in advance! 🐧

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[–] arran4@aussie.zone 3 points 2 days ago (1 children)

You can (and generally do) install gentoo in a Chroot, I recommend using btrfs with subvolumes on your current install, then switching when everything works, that way you can roll back.

But since you're on arch you probably already know a fair chunk of what is necessary.

Use flags are more about features, there are other flags like cpu architecture. I don't recommend you do too much on your first build, except for having some sweeping ones like X and/or Wayland. Then once you have it running you can do a rebuild. I also recommend taking subvolume snapshots before doing major changes.
Yes. https://wiki.gentoo.org/wiki/OpenRC#Runlevels

[–] akunohana@piefed.blahaj.zone 1 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Cool! That sounds quite straightforward. 😊 I guess at the very least I'll single out my graphic drivers (Intel)? 🤔 I wonder though, how much space and processing power can one actually save with USE flags. Like, if one were to really "squeeze" them for optimization. 😆

[–] arran4@aussie.zone 2 points 2 days ago

I would like to know too. But I guess it really depends on a per app level b/c of libraries, frameworks, and languages/runtimes.