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+<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"?>
+<!DOCTYPE sect1 PUBLIC "-//OASIS//DTD DocBook XML V4.3//EN" "http://www.oasis-open.org/docbook/xml/4.3/docbookx.dtd" [
+  <!ENTITY % general-entities SYSTEM "../general.ent">
+  %general-entities;
+]>
+<sect1 id="pre-audience">
+<title>Audience</title>
+<?dbhtml filename="audience.html"?>
+
+<sect2>
+<title>Who would want to read this book</title>
+
+<para>There are many reasons why somebody would want to read this book. The 
+principal reason being to install a Linux system straight from the source 
+code. A question many people raise is <quote>Why go through all the hassle of 
+manually building a Linux system from scratch when you can just download and 
+install an existing one?</quote>. That is a good question and is the impetus for
+this section of the book.</para>
+
+<para>One important reason for LFS's existence is to help people learn how a 
+Linux system works from the inside out. Building an LFS system helps demonstrate
+to you what makes Linux tick, how things work together and depend on each 
+other. One of the best things that this learning experience provides is the 
+ability to customize Linux to your own tastes and needs.</para>
+
+<para>A key benefit of LFS is that you have more control of your system
+without relying on someone else's Linux implementation. With LFS, you are
+in the driver's seat and dictate every aspect of your system, such as the
+directory layout and bootscript setup. You also dictate where, why and how
+programs are installed.</para>
+
+<para>Another benefit of LFS is the ability to create a very compact Linux 
+system. When installing a regular distribution, you are usually forced to 
+install several programs which you are likely never to use. They're just 
+sitting there wasting precious disk space (or worse, CPU cycles). It isn't 
+difficult to build an LFS system of less than 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 successfully built a system that was just enough to run the Apache 
+web server with approximately 8MB of disk space used. Further stripping could 
+bring that down to 5 MB or less. Try that with a regular distribution.</para>
+
+<para>We could compare Linux distributions to a hamburger you buy at a
+fast-food restaurant -- you have no idea what you are eating. LFS, on the
+other hand, doesn't give you a hamburger, but the recipe to make a hamburger. 
+This allows you to review it, to omit unwanted ingredients, and to
+add your own ingredients which enhance the flavor of your burger. When you
+are satisfied with the recipe, you go on to preparing it. You make it just
+the way you like it: broil it, bake it, deep-fry it, barbecue it, or eat it
+tar-tar (raw).</para>
+
+<para>Another analogy that we can use is that of comparing LFS with a 
+finished house. LFS will give you the skeletal plan of a house, but it's up 
+to you to build it. You have the freedom to adjust your plans as you
+go.</para>
+
+<para>One last advantage of a custom built Linux system is security.
+By compiling the entire system from source code, you are empowered to audit
+everything and apply all the security patches you feel are needed. You don't 
+have to wait for somebody else to compile binary packages that fix a security
+hole. Unless you examine the patch and implement it yourself you have no
+guarantee that the new binary package was built correctly and actually fixes the
+problem (adequately).</para>
+
+<para>There are too many good reasons to build your own LFS system for them all 
+to be listed here. This section is only the tip of the iceberg.  As you 
+continue in your LFS experience, you will find on your own the power that 
+information and knowledge truly bring.</para>
+
+</sect2>
+
+<sect2>
+<title>Who would not want to read this book</title>
+
+<para>There are probably some who, for whatever reason, would feel that they do not 
+want to read this book. If you do not wish to build your own Linux system from 
+scratch, then you probably don't want to read this book. Our goal is to help 
+you build a complete and usable foundation-level system. If you only want to 
+know what happens while your computer boots, then we recommend the <quote>From 
+Power Up To Bash Prompt</quote> HOWTO. The HOWTO builds a bare system which is 
+similar to that of this book, but it focuses strictly on creating a system 
+capable of booting to a BASH prompt.</para>
+
+<para>While you decide which to read, consider your objective. If you wish
+to build a Linux system while learning a bit along the way, then this book
+is probably your best choice. If your objective is strictly educational and
+you do not have any plans for your finished system, then the
+<quote>From Power Up To Bash Prompt</quote> HOWTO is probably a better choice.</para>
+
+<para>The <quote>From Power Up To Bash Prompt</quote> HOWTO is located at 
+<ulink url="http://axiom.anu.edu.au/~okeefe/p2b/"/> or on The Linux 
+Documentation Project's website at
+<ulink url="http://www.tldp.org/HOWTO/From-PowerUp-To-Bash-Prompt-HOWTO.html"/>.</para>
+
+</sect2>
+
+</sect1>