[wplug] Mandrake 7.2

[Jack Detrick]

That is just awful--a linux distro that requires you to reboot after _any_ kind of an update (other than kernel, but that's not required until you actually want to reboot and use the new kernel) is not good.  This is linux--reboots should be scarce unless either 1. As aforementioned, you're updating your kernel or 2. you're installing a new distro or such.  

Yes, compiling software is a problem for people who like to use RPM's all the time.  It's either one or the other--gcc isn't going to update your rpm database at any time during the compilation process or after.  

One thing you might want to look into is Linux From Scratch (http://www.linuxfromscratch.org).  There is a guide there that will walk you through building a base linux installation in which you compile all the necessary packages from source code.  It sounds like a daunting task, but it's really not.  The book covers all the bases for this initial process, and if you have problems there's a few mailing lists to go to as well.  If you're interested, check it out.  The book is at the site, it's online and free.  You have complete control over your system and what's installed/what's not installed.  I'm writing this on a glibc-2.1.3/gcc-2.95.2.1/X-4.0.3-based system.  The window manager I'm currently in is gnome, but I also have windowmaker, blackbox, E, and lesstif installed if I'd rather be in those environments at any given time (KDE 2.1 goes in tonight).  

LFS is a _wonderful_ learning experience.  I couldn't begin to compare what I knew before I got involved a year ago with what I know today.  Best of all, I can say that _my_ linux box is quite truly _my_ linux box, not redhat's, mandrake's, debian's, slackware's (my personal fav in distro's if i had to choose on, though), suse's, etc.  I don't need a package manager because I know exactly what's installed, and knowing where things have been placed by which package is as easy as using a combination of find & diff before & after the package (or you could use installwatch).

Whatever though, YMMV.