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Gentoo Linux is a versatile and fast, completely free Linux distribution geared towards developers and network professionals. Unlike other distros, Gentoo Linux has an advanced package management system called Portage. Portage is a true ports system in the tradition of BSD ports, but is Python-based and sports a number of advanced features including dependencies, fine-grained package management, "fake"(OpenBSD-style) installs, safe unmerging, system profiles, virtual packages, config file management, and more.
Portage is the heart of Gentoo, and performs many key functions. For one, Portage is the software distribution system for Gentoo. To get the latest software for Gentoo, you type one command "emerge --sync". This command tells Portage to update your local "Portage tree"over the Internet. Your local Portage tree contains a complete collection of scripts that can be used by Portage to create and install the latest Gentoo packages. Currently, there are more than 10,000 packages in the Portage tree, with updates and new ones being added all the time.
Portage is also a package building and installation system. When you want to install a package, you type "emerge
packagename", at which point Portage automatically builds a custom version of the package to your exact specifications, optimizing it for your hardware and ensuring that the optional features in the package that you want are enabled.
Portage also keeps your system up-to-date. Typing "emerge -uD world"will ensure that all the packages that you want on your system are updated automatically.
Gentoo Linux also features the Gentoo Linux Installer with a non-networked install mode and a more streamlined configuration interface, making a typical installation quicker and easier than ever.
Gentoo 2007.0 features:
- Linux kernel 2.6.19
- Kernel Module Editing: module-init-tools 3.2.2
- Automatic Hardware Detection (udev 104)
- Window System: Xorg 7.2
- Desktops: GNOME 2.16.0, KDE 3.5.5, Xfce 4.4.0
- Advanced Linux Sound Architecture 1.0.14rc3
- Office Applications: Abiword 2.4.6, Emacs 21.4, KOffice 1.6.1, OpenOffice.org 2.1.0, Gnumeric 1.6.3, GnuCash 2.0.5, Vim 7.0, Nautilus 2.16.3
- Multimedia: The GIMP 2.2.14, Xine 1.1.4, Amarok 1.4.5, MPlayer 1.0cvs,
- Web Browser: Firefox 2.0.0.3, SeaMonkey 1.1.1
- Mail/IM: Evolution 2.8.2.1, Gaim 1.5.0, Thunderbird 1.5.0.10, Sendmail 8.14.0, Postfix 2.3.6
- CD/DVD Burning: cdrtools 2.01.01a10, K3b 0.12.17
- Server/Client: BIND 9.3.4, DB 4.3.29, DHCP 3.0.3, Apache 2.0.58, iptables 1.3.7, MySQL 5.0.38, OpenSSH 4.5p1, OpenSSL 0.9.8d, PostgreSQL 8.0.13, Webmin 1.340
- Development: GCC 4.1.1, glibc 2.5, KDEWebDev 3.5.5, Mono 1.2.2.1, PERL 5.8.8, PHP 5.2.2, Python 2.4.4, Qt-X11 4.2.3, Gtk+ 2.10.9
- Printing Services: CUPS 1.2.9, Samba 3.0.24
- Many more updates!
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