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How Linux Works
book

How Linux Works

by Brian Ward
May 2004
Beginner content levelBeginner
368 pages
8h 44m
English
No Starch Press
Content preview from How Linux Works

Installation Practice

Knowing how to build and install software is good, but knowing when and where to install your own packages is what proves to be useful. Linux distributions try to cram in as much software as possible on installation. You should always ask yourself if you should install a package by yourself instead.

Here are the advantages of doing it yourself:

  • You can customize package defaults.

  • Custom software usually survives operating system upgrades.

  • When installing a package, you often get a much clearer picture of how to use the package.

  • You always get the latest releases.

  • It's easier to back up a custom package.

  • It's easier to distribute self-installed packages across a network.

These are the disadvantages:

  • It takes time.

  • If you don't actually ...

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Publisher Resources

ISBN: 9781593270353Errata