From mboxrd@z Thu Jan 1 00:00:00 1970 Received: from pigeon.gentoo.org ([208.92.234.80] helo=lists.gentoo.org) by finch.gentoo.org with esmtp (Exim 4.60) (envelope-from ) id 1PV5jx-0005n8-6Q for garchives@archives.gentoo.org; Tue, 21 Dec 2010 17:11:09 +0000 Received: from pigeon.gentoo.org (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by pigeon.gentoo.org (Postfix) with SMTP id 7B4FEE079F for ; Tue, 21 Dec 2010 17:11:08 +0000 (UTC) Received: from foo.stuge.se (foo.stuge.se [213.88.146.6]) by pigeon.gentoo.org (Postfix) with SMTP id 85EEAE05DE for ; Tue, 21 Dec 2010 16:20:13 +0000 (UTC) Received: (qmail 27393 invoked by uid 501); 21 Dec 2010 16:20:12 -0000 Message-ID: <20101221162012.27392.qmail@stuge.se> Date: Tue, 21 Dec 2010 17:20:12 +0100 From: Peter Stuge To: gentoo-embedded@lists.gentoo.org Subject: Re: [gentoo-embedded] Some good words for Gentoo embedded? Mail-Followup-To: gentoo-embedded@lists.gentoo.org References: <4D10C0B0.8010602@wildgooses.com> Precedence: bulk List-Post: List-Help: List-Unsubscribe: List-Subscribe: List-Id: Gentoo Linux mail X-BeenThere: gentoo-embedded@lists.gentoo.org Reply-to: gentoo-embedded@lists.gentoo.org MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Disposition: inline In-Reply-To: <4D10C0B0.8010602@wildgooses.com> X-Archives-Salt: b418abb7-5fc2-4610-9c18-7f77954c64b8 X-Archives-Hash: a3b393f403ac2b0caeac995ed6200830 Ed W wrote: >> "Why Gentoo?" > > I like gentoo for situations where: > - Skilled developer available > - Customisable solution is desired > - Tightly controlled deployment environment > - Repeatable build environment required > > I think gentoo is far less acceptable if there isn't a skilled developer > available to help maintain and develop it... Probably that's my main > suggestion on how to size your project? > > However, if that developer/administrator is available, then Gentoo is a > marvellous solution for quickly building few MB custom solution, or a 60MB > virtual server base installation, or whatever other customised environment > you desire? This is very perceptive, and excellent advice! I believe firmly in "owning the problem" and for that, Gentoo is a very good fit. I know many who fiercly resist owning any problem whatsoever, and they do fine anyway (even better than me) and for them obviously Gentoo is not at all a goo fit because they would have to make lots of decisions they do not want to. Abstracting a little; the more requirements there are, the more likely it is that without Gentoo, it would be neccessary to start re-inventing various bits and pieces that Gentoo already offer. Sometimes requirements come only later, when a production process has already been established, and can not comfortably be replaced. That's a bad situation to be in. It will be painful no matter what, but often people choose the lengthy pain that means sticking with the old "distribution" living with a less-than-useful environment and reinventing tools and processes, instead of ripping off the band-aid and making a switch to Gentoo or something else that fits the project. //Peter