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58 lines
2.6 KiB
XML
58 lines
2.6 KiB
XML
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
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<!DOCTYPE sect1 PUBLIC "-//OASIS//DTD DocBook XML V4.5//EN"
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"http://www.oasis-open.org/docbook/xml/4.5/docbookx.dtd" [
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<!ENTITY % general-entities SYSTEM "../general.ent">
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%general-entities;
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]>
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<sect1 id="pre-audience">
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<?dbhtml filename="audience.html"?>
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<title>Audience</title>
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<para>There are many reasons why you would want to read this book. One of the
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questions many people raise is, <quote>why go through all the hassle of manually
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building a Linux system from scratch when you can just download and install
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an existing one?</quote></para>
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<para>One important reason for this project's existence is to help you learn
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how a Linux system works from the inside out. Building an LFS system helps
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demonstrate what makes Linux tick, and how things work together and depend on
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each other. One of the best things this learning experience can provide is
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the ability to customize a Linux system to suit your own unique needs.</para>
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<para>Another key benefit of LFS is that it gives you control
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of the system without relying on someone else's Linux implementation. With
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LFS, you are in the driver's seat. <emphasis>You</emphasis> dictate every aspect of your
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system.</para>
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<para>LFS allows you to create very compact Linux systems. With
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other distributions you are often forced to install a great many
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programs you neither use nor understand. These programs waste
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resources. You may argue that with today's hard drives and CPUs, wasted
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resources are no longer a consideration. Sometimes, however, you are still
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constrained by the system's size, if nothing else. Think about bootable
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CDs, USB sticks, and embedded systems. Those are areas where LFS can be
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beneficial.</para>
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<para>Another advantage of a custom built Linux system is security. By compiling
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the entire system from source code, you are empowered to audit everything
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and apply all the security patches you want. You don't have to
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wait for somebody else to compile binary packages that fix a security hole.
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Unless you examine the patch and implement it yourself, you have no
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guarantee that the new binary package was built correctly and adequately
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fixes the problem.</para>
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<para>The goal of Linux From Scratch is to build a complete and usable
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foundation-level system. If you do not wish to build your own Linux system
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from scratch, you may nevertheless benefit from the information in this
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book.</para>
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<para>There are too many good reasons to build your own LFS system to
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list them all here. In the end, education is by far the most important
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reason. As you continue your LFS experience, you will discover the power
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that information and knowledge can bring.</para>
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</sect1>
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