diff options
Diffstat (limited to 'prologue/audience.xml')
| -rw-r--r-- | prologue/audience.xml | 81 |
1 files changed, 80 insertions, 1 deletions
diff --git a/prologue/audience.xml b/prologue/audience.xml index 2d2edf45d..b9a1842a1 100644 --- a/prologue/audience.xml +++ b/prologue/audience.xml @@ -7,6 +7,85 @@ <title>Audience</title> <?dbhtml filename="audience.html"?> -<para>See testing</para> +<para>There are many reasons why somebody would want to read this +book. The principle reason is 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 what makes Linux tick, and 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 it allows users to have more +control over the system without relying on someone else's Linux +implementation. With LFS, <emphasis>you</emphasis> are in the +driver's seat and dictate every aspect of the 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, one is often +forced to install several programs which are probably never used. +These programs waste precious disk space, or worse, CPU cycles. It is +not difficult to build an LFS system of less than 100 megabytes (MB), +which is substantially smaller compared to most existing setups. Does +this still sound like a lot of space? A few of us have been working on +creating a very small embedded LFS system. We successfully built a +system that was specialized to run the Apache web server with +approximately 8MB of disk space used. Further stripping could bring +this down to 5 MB or less. Try that with a regular distribution! +This is only one of the many benefits of designing your own Linux +implementation.</para> + +<para>We could compare Linux distributions to a hamburger purchased at +a fast-food restaurant—you have no idea what might be in what +you are eating. LFS, on the other hand, does not give you a hamburger. +Rather, LFS provides the recipe to make the exact hamburger desired. +This allows users to review the recipe, omit unwanted ingredients, and +add your own ingredients to enhance the flavor of the burger. +When you are satisfied with the recipe, move on to preparing it. It +can be made to exact specifications—broil it, bake it, deep-fry +it, or barbecue it.</para> + +<para>Another analogy that we can use is that of comparing LFS with a +finished house. LFS provides the skeletal plan of a house, but it is up +to you to build it. LFS maintains the freedom to adjust plans +throughout the process, customizing it to the user's needs and +preferences.</para> + +<para>An additional 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 +desired. It is no longer necessary 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 adequately fixes +the problem.</para> + +<para>The goal of Linux From Scratch is to build a complete and usable +foundation-level system. Readers who do not wish to build their own +Linux system from scratch may not benefit from the information in this +book. If you only want to know what happens while the computer boots, +we recommend the <quote>From Power Up To Bash Prompt</quote> HOWTO +located at <ulink url="http://axiom.anu.edu.au/~okeefe/p2b/"/> or on +The Linux Documentation Project's (TLDP) website at <ulink +url="http://www.tldp.org/HOWTO/From-PowerUp-To-Bash-Prompt-HOWTO.html"/>. +The HOWTO builds a system which is similar to that of this book, +but it focuses strictly on creating a system capable of booting to a +BASH prompt. Consider your objective. If you wish to build a Linux +system while learning along the way, then this book is your best +choice.</para> + +<para>There are too many good reasons to build your own LFS system to +list them all here. This section is only the tip of the iceberg. As +you continue in your LFS experience, you will find the power that +information and knowledge truly bring.</para> </sect1> + |