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I do not understand the purpose of the `zen` tool, which is a giant bash script with hardcoded install/uninstall steps for each "package": https://github.com/Ze

by Retr0id 8mo ago

I do not understand the purpose of the `zen` tool, which is a giant bash script with hardcoded install/uninstall steps for each "package": https://github.com/Zenclora/build/blob/697c20a79b5638b4447bf80f4e9291c0310bb972/config/includes.chroot/usr/bin/zen#L268-L284 https://github.com/Zenclora/build/blob/697c20a79b5638b4447bf...

josephg 8mo ago
Despite their marketing, this script does not spark joy. Eg, they have a "zen optimize" command, which clears caches, nukes /tmp, turns swap off and on again and runs fstrim. You don't need to do any of this stuff. Clearing cache and swap will make programs run slower. Wiping /tmp can be harmful to running processes. It all seems like a big LLM vomit. https://github.com/Zenclora/build/blob/697c20a79b5638b4447bf80f4e9291c0310bb972/config/includes.chroot/usr/bin/zen#L929-L992 https://github.com/Zenclora/build/blob/697c20a79b5638b4447bf...
- autoexec 8mo ago
  Generally, clearing caches will make programs run slower once (on first run after the clear), but it could speed things up if there's a massive amount of other stuff cached or if the cached thing you're trying to run got corrupted somehow.
  - Retr0id 8mo ago
    There is no situation in which having a populated page cache will slow things down, since those are the pages that linux will drop first to use for whatever else needs them.
- groguzt 8mo ago
  I mean, the comments with numbered steps are pretty much a dead giveaway that its just AI slip. If I were to guess, I would say Gemini 3/3.1, as it tends to add a lot of numbered steps comments, more so than other models from my experience
pneumic 8mo ago
Putting money down on this being primarily LLM coded
- deleted 8mo ago
  [deleted]
autoexec 8mo ago
I think it's just supposed to make installing commonly used things seem easier. I have to admit that (assuming they both work flawlessly) it'd be easier to type "zen install steam" than it is to manually edit a file and run four commands following the directions here https://wiki.debian.org/Steam https://wiki.debian.org/Steam

by Retr0id 8mo ago

josephg 8mo ago

Despite their marketing, this script does not spark joy. Eg, they have a "zen optimize" command, which clears caches, nukes /tmp, turns swap off and on again and runs fstrim. You don't need to do any of this stuff. Clearing cache and swap will make programs run slower. Wiping /tmp can be harmful to running processes. It all seems like a big LLM vomit. https://github.com/Zenclora/build/blob/697c20a79b5638b4447bf80f4e9291c0310bb972/config/includes.chroot/usr/bin/zen#L929-L992 https://github.com/Zenclora/build/blob/697c20a79b5638b4447bf...

autoexec 8mo ago
Generally, clearing caches will make programs run slower once (on first run after the clear), but it could speed things up if there's a massive amount of other stuff cached or if the cached thing you're trying to run got corrupted somehow.
- Retr0id 8mo ago
  There is no situation in which having a populated page cache will slow things down, since those are the pages that linux will drop first to use for whatever else needs them.
groguzt 8mo ago
I mean, the comments with numbered steps are pretty much a dead giveaway that its just AI slip. If I were to guess, I would say Gemini 3/3.1, as it tends to add a lot of numbered steps comments, more so than other models from my experience

pneumic 8mo ago

Putting money down on this being primarily LLM coded

deleted 8mo ago
[deleted]

autoexec 8mo ago

I think it's just supposed to make installing commonly used things seem easier. I have to admit that (assuming they both work flawlessly) it'd be easier to type "zen install steam" than it is to manually edit a file and run four commands following the directions here https://wiki.debian.org/Steam https://wiki.debian.org/Steam