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git-svn-id: http://svn.linuxfromscratch.org/LFS/trunk/BOOK@1078 4aa44e1e-78dd-0310-a6d2-fbcd4c07a689
72 lines
3.2 KiB
XML
72 lines
3.2 KiB
XML
<sect1 id="pre-whoread">
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<title>Who would want to read this book</title>
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<para>
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There are a lot of reasons why somebody would want to read this book in
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order to install an LFS system. The question most people raise is "why
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go through all the hassle of manually installing a Linux system from
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scratch when you can just download an existing version like Debian or
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Redhat". That is a valid question which I hope to answer for you.
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</para>
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<para>
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The most important reason for LFS's existence is teaching people how a
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Linux system works internally. Building an LFS system teaches you about
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all that makes Linux tick, how things work together, and depend on each
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other. And most importantly, how to customize it to your own taste and
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needs.
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</para>
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<para>
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One of the key benefits of LFS is that you are in control over your
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system without having to rely on somebody else's Linux implementation
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like Debian. You are in the driver's seat now and are able to dictate
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every single thing such as the directory layout and boot script setup.
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You will also know exactly where, why and how programs are installed.
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</para>
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<para>
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Another benefit of LFS is that you can create a very compact Linux
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system. When you install a distribution like Debian or RedHat, you end
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up installing a lot of programs you would never in your life use.
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They're just sitting there taking up (precious) disk space. It's not
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hard to get an LFS system installed under 100 MB. Does that still sound
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like a lot? A few of us have been working on creating a very small
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embedded LFS system. We installed a system that was just enough to run
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the Apache web server; total disk space usage was aproximately 8 MB.
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With further stripping, that can be brought down to 5 MB or less. Try
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that with a generic Debian or Redhat distribution.
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</para>
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<para>
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If we were to compare a Linux distribution with a hamburger you buy at a
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supermarket or fast-food restaurant, you would end up eating it without
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knowing precisely what it is you are eating, whereas LFS gives you the
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ingredients to make a hamburger. This allows you to carefully inspect
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it, remove unwanted ingredients, and at the same time allow you to add
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ingredients to enhance the flavour of your hamburger. When you are
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satisfied with the ingredients, you go on to the next part of putting it
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together. You now have the chance to make it just the way you like it:
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broil it, bake it, deep-fry it, barbeque it, or eat it raw.
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</para>
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<para>
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Another analogy that we can use is that of comparing LFS with a finished
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house. LFS will give you the skeleton of a house, but it's up to you to
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install plumbing, electrical outlets, kitchen, bathtub, wallpaper, etc.
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</para>
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<para>
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Another advantage of a custom built Linux system is added security. You
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will compile the entire system from source, thus allowing you to audit
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everything, if you wish to do so, and apply all the security patches you
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want or need to apply. You don't have to wait for somebody else to
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provide a new binary package that fixes a security hole. Besides, you
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have no guarantee that the new package actually fixes the problem
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(adequately). You never truly know whether a security hole is fixed or
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not unless you do it yourself.
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</para>
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</sect1>
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