[Nottingham] Gentoo portage tips

[David Ginger]

<snip>
> The problem with 'just re-emerge any package found to be at risk' is that
> the responsibility is with the admin, rather than the automatic package
> update system.  Computer's are supposed to work for us, not us for them!
</snip>

Of course the notion that "Computers are supposed to work for us" is not one 
that many people would disagree with. The degree to which one can easily 
upgrade a system depends upon the design of the system.

"While you might have been erroneously taught that automation is a good thing 
because it removes human error, this is not the case. Unix Systems are 
written in C, with a philosophy of 'the programmer knows best'. That  
philosophy is reflected throughout almost the entire system."

IMHO trying to improve the current state of affairs by creating better package 
systems and update software is a noble effort. Of course it will never fully 
succeed as it only treats the symptons.