Changeset 22a2710c

Timestamp:

08/28/2001 12:52:26 AM (23 years ago)

Author:

Gerard Beekmans <gerard@…>

Branches:

10.0, 10.0-rc1, 10.1, 10.1-rc1, 11.0, 11.0-rc1, 11.0-rc2, 11.0-rc3, 11.1, 11.1-rc1, 11.2, 11.2-rc1, 11.3, 11.3-rc1, 12.0, 12.0-rc1, 12.1, 12.1-rc1, 6.0, 6.1, 6.1.1, 6.3, 6.4, 6.5, 6.6, 6.7, 6.8, 7.0, 7.1, 7.2, 7.3, 7.4, 7.5, 7.5-systemd, 7.6, 7.6-systemd, 7.7, 7.7-systemd, 7.8, 7.8-systemd, 7.9, 7.9-systemd, 8.0, 8.1, 8.2, 8.3, 8.4, 9.0, 9.1, arm, bdubbs/gcc13, ml-11.0, multilib, renodr/libudev-from-systemd, s6-init, trunk, v3_0, v3_1, v3_2, v3_3, v4_0, v4_1, v5_0, v5_1, v5_1_1, xry111/arm64, xry111/arm64-12.0, xry111/clfs-ng, xry111/lfs-next, xry111/loongarch, xry111/loongarch-12.0, xry111/loongarch-12.1, xry111/mips64el, xry111/pip3, xry111/rust-wip-20221008, xry111/update-glibc

Children:

b5cb6b6

Parents:

d16f745

Message:

replaced old 'intro' with current website's introduction

git-svn-id: ​http://svn.linuxfromscratch.org/LFS/trunk/BOOK@1078 4aa44e1e-78dd-0310-a6d2-fbcd4c07a689

File:

• preface/whoread.xml (modified) (1 diff)

preface/whoread.xml

@@ -2 +2 @@
 <title>Who would want to read this book</title>
 
-<para>This book is intended for Linux users who want to setup their own
-custom built Linux system. Reasons for wanting to build such a system are
-diverse. Perhaps you want to get into more detail as to what
-happens behind the scenes. Perhaps you are fed up with distributions
-which are often bloated or perhaps you don't want to rely on pre-compiled
-binaries due to security concerns. There are many other reasons why 
-someone may want a custom built system. If any of these reasons apply to
-you, this book is meant for you.</para>
+<para>
+There are a lot of reasons why somebody would want to read this book in
+order to install an LFS system. The question most people raise is "why 
+go through all the hassle of manually installing a Linux system from 
+scratch when you can just download an existing version like Debian or 
+Redhat". That is a valid question which I hope to answer for you.
+</para>
 
-<para>The fruits of building your own system are plentiful, but the labor may
-be hard. There is a long way ahead, but in the end you will be
-able to call yourself the proud owner of your own Linux system,
-completely tailored after your needs. You will dictate the layout of
-bootscripts, the file system hierarchy, which programs are installed in
-which directory, which versions of software to use, and more. Perhaps the
-most important reason is that you will know exactly what is installed where,
-why, and how.</para>
+<para>
+The most important reason for LFS's existence is teaching people how a
+Linux system works internally. Building an LFS system teaches you about
+all that makes Linux tick, how things work together, and depend on each
+other. And most importantly, how to customize it to your own taste and
+needs.
+</para>
+
+<para>
+One of the key benefits of LFS is that you are in control over your
+system without having to rely on somebody else's Linux implementation
+like Debian. You are in the driver's seat now and are able to dictate
+every single thing such as the directory layout and boot script setup.
+You will also know exactly where, why and how programs are installed.
+</para>
+
+<para>
+Another benefit of LFS is that you can create a very compact Linux
+system. When you install a distribution like Debian or RedHat, you end
+up installing a lot of programs you would never in your life use.
+They're just sitting there taking up (precious) disk space. It's not
+hard to get an LFS system installed under 100 MB. Does that still sound
+like a lot? A few of us have been working on creating a very small
+embedded LFS system. We installed a system that was just enough to run
+the Apache web server; total disk space usage was aproximately 8 MB.
+With further stripping, that can be brought down to 5 MB or less. Try
+that with a generic Debian or Redhat distribution.
+</para>
+
+<para>
+If we were to compare a Linux distribution with a hamburger you buy at a
+supermarket or fast-food restaurant, you would end up eating it without
+knowing precisely what it is you are eating, whereas LFS gives you the
+ingredients to make a hamburger. This allows you to carefully inspect
+it, remove unwanted ingredients, and at the same time allow you to add
+ingredients to enhance the flavour of your hamburger. When you are
+satisfied with the ingredients, you go on to the next part of putting it
+together. You now have the chance to make it just the way you like it:
+broil it, bake it, deep-fry it, barbeque it, or eat it raw.
+</para>
+
+<para>
+Another analogy that we can use is that of comparing LFS with a finished
+house. LFS will give you the skeleton of a house, but it's up to you to
+install plumbing, electrical outlets, kitchen, bathtub, wallpaper, etc.
+</para>
+
+<para>
+Another advantage of a custom built Linux system is added security. You
+will compile the entire system from source, thus allowing you to audit
+everything, if you wish to do so, and apply all the security patches you
+want or need to apply. You don't have to wait for somebody else to
+provide a new binary package that fixes a security hole. Besides, you
+have no guarantee that the new package actually fixes the problem
+(adequately). You never truly know whether a security hole is fixed or
+not unless you do it yourself.
+</para>
 
 </sect1>