From 1c72dda6ad0c1b361daa19f7b3f8aeb067adfb64 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Bruce Dubbs Date: Mon, 3 May 2010 03:43:24 +0000 Subject: Several text changes to the Rationale page git-svn-id: http://svn.linuxfromscratch.org/LFS/trunk/BOOK@9262 4aa44e1e-78dd-0310-a6d2-fbcd4c07a689 --- prologue/why.xml | 125 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++--------------------------- 1 file changed, 64 insertions(+), 61 deletions(-) (limited to 'prologue/why.xml') diff --git a/prologue/why.xml b/prologue/why.xml index 6d30236f3..f45ddb9c5 100644 --- a/prologue/why.xml +++ b/prologue/why.xml @@ -43,22 +43,22 @@ This package satisfies an LSB core requirement to provide a Bourne Shell interface to the system. It was chosen over other shell packages because of its common usage and extensive - capabilities beyond basic shell functions. + capabilities beyond basic shell functions. Binutils This package contains a linker, an assembler, and other - tools for handling object files. + tools for handling object files. The programs in this package are + needed to compile most of the packages in an LFS system and beyond. Bison This package contains the GNU version of yacc (Yet Another - Compiler Compiler) needed to build several other LFS programs. - + Compiler Compiler) needed to build several other LFS programs. @@ -72,7 +72,9 @@ Coreutils This package contains a number of essential programs for viewing - and manipulating files and directories. + and manipulating files and directories. These programs are needed for + command line file management, and are necessary for the installation + procedures of every package in LFS. @@ -86,7 +88,8 @@ Diffutils This package contains programs that show the differences - between files or directories. + between files or directories. These programs can be used to create + patches, and are also used in many packages' build procedures. @@ -110,13 +113,14 @@ File This package contains a utility for determining the type of a - given file or files. + given file or files. A few packages need it to build. Findutils - This package contains programs to find files in a file system. + This package contains programs to find files in a file system. + It is used in many packages' build scripts. @@ -125,14 +129,15 @@ This package contains a utility for generating programs that recognize patterns in text. It is the GNU version of the lex (lexical analyzer) program. It is required to build several - LFS packages. + LFS packages. Gawk This package contains programs for manipulating text files. - It is the GNU version of awk (Aho-Weinberg-Kernighan). + It is the GNU version of awk (Aho-Weinberg-Kernighan). It is used in + many other packages' build scripts. @@ -147,23 +152,21 @@ GDBM This package contains the GNU Database Manager library. It - is used by one other LFS package, Man-DB. - + is used by one other LFS package, Man-DB. Gettext This package contains utilities and libraries for - internationalization and localization of numerous packages. - + internationalization and localization of numerous packages. Glibc This package contains the main C library. Linux programs would - not run without it. + not run without it. @@ -176,16 +179,15 @@ Grep - This package contains programs for searching through files. - + This package contains programs for searching through files. These + programs are used by most packages' build scripts. Groff This package contains programs for processing and formatting text. - One important function of these programs is to format man pages. - + One important function of these programs is to format man pages. @@ -200,23 +202,22 @@ Gzip This package contains programs for compressing and - decompressing files. + decompressing files. It is needed to decompress many packages in LFS + and beyond. Iana-etc This package provides data for network services and protocols. - It is needed to enable proper networking capabilities. - + It is needed to enable proper networking capabilities. Inetutils This package contains programs for basic network - administration. - + administration. @@ -230,16 +231,16 @@ Kbd - This package contains key-table files and keyboard utilities - for non-US keyboards. + This package contains key-table files, keyboard utilities + for non-US keyboards, and a number of console fonts. Less This package contains a very nice text file viewer that - allows scrolling up or down when viewing a file. - + allows scrolling up or down when viewing a file. It is also used by + Man-DB for viewing manpages. @@ -248,32 +249,28 @@ This package contains the GNU generic library support script. It wraps the complexity of using shared libraries in a consistent, portable interface. It is needed by the test - suites in other LFS packages. - + suites in other LFS packages. Linux Kernel This package is the Operating System. It is the Linux in - the GNU/Linux environment. - + the GNU/Linux environment. M4 This package contains a general text macro processor useful - as a build tool for other programs. - + as a build tool for other programs. Make This package contains a program for directing the building - of packages. It is required by almost every package in LFS. - + of packages. It is required by almost every package in LFS. @@ -282,14 +279,14 @@ This package contains programs for finding and viewing man pages. It was chosen instead of the man package due to superior internationalization capabilities. It supplies - the man program. + the man program. Man-pages This package contains the actual contents of the basic - Linux man pages. + Linux man pages. @@ -299,12 +296,18 @@ kernel modules. + + MPC + + This package contains functions for the arithmetic of complex + numbers. It is required by Gcc. + + MPFR This package contains functions for multiple precision - arithmetic. It is required by Gcc. - + arithmetic. It is required by Gcc. @@ -312,7 +315,8 @@ This package contains libraries for terminal-independent handling of character screens. It is often used to provide - cursor control for a menuing system. + cursor control for a menuing system. It is needed by a number of + packages in LFS. @@ -321,14 +325,15 @@ This package contains a program for modifying or creating files by applying a patch file typically created by the diff program. It is needed by - the build procedure for several LFS packages. + the build procedure for several LFS packages. Perl This package is an interpreter for the runtime language - PERL. + PERL. It is needed for the installation and testsuites of several LFS + packages. @@ -336,28 +341,30 @@ This package contains a tool for passing the include path and/or library paths to build tools during the configure and make - processes. It is needed by many LFS packages. + processes. It is needed by many LFS packages. Procps - This package contains programs for monitoring processes. - + This package contains programs for monitoring processes. These + programs are useful for system administration, and are also used by + the LFS Bootscripts. Psmisc This package contains programs for displaying information - about running processes. + about running processes. These programs are useful for system + administration. Readline This package is a set of libraries that offers command-line - editing and history capabilities. It is used by Bash. + editing and history capabilities. It is used by Bash. @@ -365,7 +372,7 @@ This package allows editing of text without opening it in a text editor. It is also needed by most LFS packages' configure - scripts. + scripts. @@ -380,8 +387,7 @@ This package contains programs for logging system messages, such as those given by the kernel or daemon processes when unusual - events occur. - + events occur. @@ -396,7 +402,7 @@ Tar This package provides archiving and extraction capabilities - of virtually all packages used in LFS. + of virtually all packages used in LFS. @@ -404,7 +410,7 @@ This package contains the Tool Command Language used in many testsuites in LFS packages. It is only installed in - the temporary toolchain. + the temporary toolchain. @@ -412,7 +418,7 @@ This package contains programs for reading, writing, and converting info pages. It is used in the installation - procedures of many LFS packages. + procedures of many LFS packages. @@ -420,8 +426,7 @@ This package contains programs for dynamic creation of device nodes. It is an alternative to creating thousands of - static devices in the /dev directory. - + static devices in the /dev directory. @@ -429,7 +434,7 @@ This package contains miscellaneous utility programs. Among them are utilities for handling file systems, consoles, - partitions, and messages. + partitions, and messages. @@ -438,16 +443,14 @@ This package contains an editor. It was chosen because of its compatibility with the classic vi editor and its huge number of powerful capabilities. An editor is a very personal choice for - many users and any other editor could be substituted if desired. - + many users and any other editor could be substituted if desired. Zlib This package contains compression and decompression routines - used by some programs. - + used by some programs. -- cgit v1.2.3-54-g00ecf