User talk:Pietinger/New at Gentoo

Translation ?

Feel free to say once you think this page is ready, I could translate it into french as well if you think it's worth it. Plus it won't take much time to me ! :)

Regards, Kévin GASPARD DE RENEFORT (talk) 12:13, 23 April 2025 (UTC)

To be honest, I don't think this article will ever become official. The reason is simple: it's not written in the 3rd person. But honestly: I WANT to address people personally to make them feel better. Maybe you don't know it, but I'm mainly on our Gentoo forum and help people there. My articles are the result of the most common questions / problems ... and because I am a very lazy person and don't want to give the same answers over and over again, I have summarized the most common things and then I just give people the link ;-)

Many Regards, Peter User:Pietinger 13:30, 23 April 2025 (UTC)

I am aware of your position mostly being in the forum as the goal of this whole page. I know it probably never will be official, nonetheless this is some good advice so I guess everyone (no matter the language) should be able to read it ! :)

Was asking, just in case. Feel free to ask if you change your mind.

Regards, Kévin GASPARD DE RENEFORT (talk) 13:35, 23 April 2025 (UTC)

You are of course welcome to translate this whenever you want - I have no plans to add anything at the moment ... but that can change again :-D I know that you are very active in our wiki, so you will probably do the same as me: check every day which articles have changed. If you want I can also ping you in IRC (wiki-channel) if I change something.

Many Regards, Peter User:Pietinger 13:45, 23 April 2025 (UTC)

My few suggestions

Feel free to reject them if they doesn't make senses to you, but here are my suggestions:

1. Initial installation

Installing Gentoo will take longer than installing a binary Linux distribution ... and you will also need more time for reading manuals, because your normal Linux knowledge is not (yet) sufficient. Plan several days. 

I would if I were you add right after something like : "But do not worry, the first installation of Gentoo takes some times, but once you are used to it and know the process, it's mostly possible to install it in a few hours."

Why: That could lead confusion to new comers, thinking Gentoo would always need **days** while it's, in my experience at least, mostly the first time you struggle and take a lot of time.

Of course this is under a section named "Initial installation", but I like things extra-obvious (maybe too much…).

2. AMD64 Handbook ?

Before you jump into Handbook:AMD64 to install Gentoo, I would like to recommend a few things: 

I guess because 95% of users would need this, still, I would see this instead :

Before you jump into Handbook:AMD64 to install Gentoo (if it is actually your architecture), I would like to recommend a few things: 

3. Pre-compiled kernel ?

Secondly, even if you want to use a manually configured kernel, you should first install the precompiled kernel image sys-kernel/gentoo-kernel-bin because you can then select it at any time via the boot manager and thus have a backup kernel when your manually configured kernel causes problems. This is the first option in Handbook:AMD64/Installation/Kernel.

IMHO, I would recommend pre-compiled bin kernel **or** the gentoo-kernel, if peoples are not afraid of some building. I guess it's usually a bad idea to tweak the actual kernel instead of using the gentoo's one. -bin is fine of course, but it's mostly to save some time…

I would write :

Secondly, even if you want to use a manually configured kernel, you should first install the precompiled kernel image sys-kernel/gentoo-kernel-bin or sys-kernel/gentoo-kernel (non-precompiled) because you can then select it at any time via the boot manager and thus have a backup kernel when your manually configured kernel causes problems. For a first installation, tweaking the kernel could (would) probably cause useless pain, waste of time, etc. Unless it is actually really needed, for the installation it is probably better to stick to the gentoo-kernel(-bin). This is the first option in Handbook:AMD64/Installation/Kernel.

These are my fews suggestions :).

Regards, Kévin GASPARD DE RENEFORT (talk) 12:13, 23 April 2025 (UTC)

Thank you very much for your suggestions (which I implemented straight away). I am always happy to receive such suggestions for improvement. :-)

Many Regards, Peter User:Pietinger 13:30, 23 April 2025 (UTC)

Grub vs Systemd-boot

Why do you recommend Grub for OpenRC and Systemd-boot for Systemd? — Waldo Lemmer 17:07, 2 April 2024 (UTC)

Because I think it makes sense - grub is the default in our Handbook; systemd users usally want systemd-boot. Please note that this is a recommendation only IF the user is undecided.