3 ms·

I think arch has it right with the rolling release approach containing binary packages that are built with a minimalist philosophy. Need to tweak a package to

by yogo 13y ago

I think arch has it right with the rolling release approach containing binary packages that are built with a minimalist philosophy. Need to tweak a package to include something else or be built a different way? ABS is fantastic because you most likely won't have to change much and the package can still be kept under package management.

Zancarius 13y ago
I can't agree more! I started dabbling with Arch sometime between 2011 and 2012. It's my primary desktop OS because of being both a rolling release distro and being a rolling release distro that distributes packages in binary form. Don't get me wrong, I love Gentoo, but I find my patience waiting for large builds (KDE, X, Firefox, etc) diminishing over time. The AUR also has such a vast number of packages, I can't really think of more than one or two circumstances where something I needed wasn't available (or I was too stupid to know what to search for which was probably the case). ABS is a godsend for exactly those reasons you cite since you don't have to worry about installing tons of rubbish into the file system for cleanup later (if there is a later). Though, I've found using the ABS SVN repos handy once or twice in the event I needed an older version (and wiped my cache, not realizing ARM was available at that time). All things considered, Arch is the best of both worlds in terms of a strong, binary package manager and the ability to tweak packages through custom builds. I wouldn't suggest it's a panacea but it comes darn close. I'll risk coming off as an evangelist, but I can't help myself: When I discovered Arch, it made Linux a tremendous joy to use and helped me rediscover the passion I felt when I first discovered Gentoo many years ago. The difference is that this passion has been sustainable. :)

3 ms·

I think arch has it right with the rolling release approach containing binary packages that are built with a minimalist philosophy. Need to tweak a package to

by yogo 13y ago

Zancarius 13y ago
I can't agree more! I started dabbling with Arch sometime between 2011 and 2012. It's my primary desktop OS because of being both a rolling release distro and being a rolling release distro that distributes packages in binary form. Don't get me wrong, I love Gentoo, but I find my patience waiting for large builds (KDE, X, Firefox, etc) diminishing over time. The AUR also has such a vast number of packages, I can't really think of more than one or two circumstances where something I needed wasn't available (or I was too stupid to know what to search for which was probably the case). ABS is a godsend for exactly those reasons you cite since you don't have to worry about installing tons of rubbish into the file system for cleanup later (if there is a later). Though, I've found using the ABS SVN repos handy once or twice in the event I needed an older version (and wiped my cache, not realizing ARM was available at that time). All things considered, Arch is the best of both worlds in terms of a strong, binary package manager and the ability to tweak packages through custom builds. I wouldn't suggest it's a panacea but it comes darn close. I'll risk coming off as an evangelist, but I can't help myself: When I discovered Arch, it made Linux a tremendous joy to use and helped me rediscover the passion I felt when I first discovered Gentoo many years ago. The difference is that this passion has been sustainable. :)