[Sussex] More gentoo problems!!!

[Thomas Adam]

 --- "John D." <big-john at dsl.pipex.com> wrote: 

> One of my main problems, is that if I want to have the best of both
> worlds, is 
> that I will have to keep mandrake installed, but then get gentoo
> re-installed 
> and bootable, to enable me to play.

Sounds reasonable to me, John.
 
> This present's a couple of problems i.e. the difference between modules
> and 
> stuff that actually has support compiled into a kernel. Then what I
> actually 
> need. Closely followed by what is going to be the best (well, at least
> the 
> better) option.

The honest opinion is that it really doesn't matter whether you compile
something as a module or whether it is statically compiled into the
kernel. Of course, the more you statically compile in, the larger the
kernel image. But for things such as filesystem support and USB, that
ought to be static since you'll need that from the kernel's initial load
(unless you like using initrd's that is). Usually then, anything else that
you would use in an ad-hoc manner is compiled as a module.

> I've still got to find out exactly what "compile time directives" are.

These are flags given to the compiler at compile time (via make, in
Makefile) so that support for various features from various libraries
(such as gtk+/qt/motif) can be included and allow the program to operate. 

> But, just like "British Rail", I'll get there eventually.

Aye, you can count on that. Stick at it, John!

HTH,

-- Thomas Adam

=====
"The Linux Weekend Mechanic" -- http://linuxgazette.net
"TAG Editor"                 -- http://linuxgazette.net

"<shrug> We'll just save up your sins, Thomas, and punish 
you for all of them at once when you get better. The 
experience will probably kill you. :)"

 -- Benjamin A. Okopnik (Linux Gazette Technical Editor)


	
	
		
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