Linux

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Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).

Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.

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Need explanations about compiling (lemmy.ml)

submitted 8 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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Hello, I'm a bit new to advanced linux and programming stuffs... Can someone explain me why compiling exists and what this process does and how to do it in the principals situations (I've heard that you can use the "makepkg" command). Thx to everyone who replied.

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[–] [email protected] -4 points 8 months ago (1 children)

Some software is brand new and not yet packaged as software packages. And for already existing software Linux distributions will have to make choices as not everything can be included and maintained. Now if a developer creates new software, and things are not packaged yet (With Debian for Debian stable this can take a really long time) it can be comfortable for the developer to provide just instructions about how to compile the software so users can run the software, while the maintainer does not have to bother about packaging.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 8 months ago (1 children)

So it's a bit like taking all the useful packages and mix it up in a clean package? And are .deb .rpm... packages made like that?

[–] [email protected] 3 points 8 months ago (1 children)

Yes, indeed. If you would want to you can re-compile Debian deb packages from Debian sources. To give you an idea : https://wiki.debian.org/apt-src There's also Gentoo Linux which has a history of compiling software. Years ago that was interesting because of flags for compiling, make the resulting software optimized for certain CPU models.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 8 months ago (1 children)

That's still true, dozens of us still use it!

[–] [email protected] 2 points 8 months ago (1 children)

I see. What are you optimizing for ? A smaller and faster kernel, or optimizing for certain CPU or certain other hardware parts ?

[–] [email protected] 2 points 8 months ago

I don't use it for the optimisations, I just prefer its package manager and ecosystem.