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[ba-ohs-talk] A new Linux distro -- Sorcerer


For a review (following a link from slashdot)
http://www.distrowatch.com/review-sorcerer.php    (01)

Requisite quote:
"Once you install a few Linux distributions, you will soon get to 
understand the basic process, which is rather similar in most mainstream 
distributions. Partition your hard drive, select the packages to install, 
listen to the CD spinning in your drive and when it calms down, you might 
do some hardware and network configuration to conclude the process. Less 
then an hour after inserting the installation CD you will have a fully 
working Linux system on your computer.    (02)

But things can be done completely differently. The beauty of Linux is that 
there are plenty of ways to achieve the same goal. As long as we are free 
to exercise our creative abilities and implement the resulting ideas, we 
can create amazing things.    (03)

Just think about this for minute - since the vast majority of Linux 
software comes with source code, why is it necessary to download binary 
files that somebody compiled on a particular hardware platform and included 
all sorts of options to run it on thousands of different hardware 
configurations? Would it not be more logical to compile everything on your 
own machine, ensuring that the code is optimised for exactly your hardware?    (04)

Enter the magic world of Sorcerer GNU Linux, a Linux distribution with a 
difference."    (05)

"Sorcerer GNU Linux (SGL) is a new Linux distribution. Its first release 
was produced in July 2001 and subsequent updates were very frequent at 
roughly twice a month. The project's web site is unlikely to win any design 
awards, but the essential information with FAQs and mailing lists to get 
anybody started is present.    (06)

The basic philosophy of Sorcerer GNU Linux is amazingly simple - after 
installing it, you will end up with the most optimised system for your 
particular hardware configuration and, at the same time, you will be 
running the absolute latest software available.    (07)

How does Sorcerer achieve this? First, you download the compressed ISO 
image, unzip it, burn it to a bootable CD and boot from it. After answering 
a few questions, you will watch the installation of a basic Linux system on 
your hard drive. Nothing really differs much from any other distribution 
until you get to the kernel compilation stage. And this is when things 
become interesting...    (08)

But we will leave a more detailed description of the installation process 
for the appropriate chapter. Here, just a basic overview: After your kernel 
is compiled, you will reboot into a brand new system. You are invited to 
configure your networking, knowing that soon there will be plenty of 
interesting code running down your cable or telephone line from various 
parts of the world. The great fun of selecting, downloading and compiling 
your packages can begin.    (09)

So what is the downside of such a distribution? If it is so great, why 
isn't everybody using it? The main reason is the fact that it takes a bit 
of knowledge and a lot of time to get Sorcerer GNU Linux up and running on 
your computer. Installing most other distribution will last less than an 
hour before you get a full-featured Linux desktop with several window 
managers, servers and more applications than you can shake a stick at. With 
Sorcerer, well, you'd better reserve a rainy weekend for it if you'd like 
to achieve the same. Some people might find this too time consuming, but 
those of us who like to tinker and optimise every bit and every byte of our 
hardware and those of us who like to run the latest software as it is 
produced, will find that Sorcerer is a dream come true. "    (010)