Test Machine Install

So, I’ve got a good install of Debian on my test machine at home. I’d seriously started to doubt that it was going to happen until Steve Waterman stepped up to the plate and provided step-by-step installation instructions. His guide is preserved for posterity today in the GnomeVoice section. If you’re the type that likes a challenge and are interested in installing Deb for yourself, the guide is a must-have. As you know, it certainly saved my behind.

It’s often said that Deb is the leanest and most stable distribution of Linux around. I’ve already seen that that’s the case, but I’ve also been able to lend some analytical time as to why that is. The first reason lies in the community of Deb users that have worked so hard to create the distro. Packages and tools simply do not make it into an “official” Deb distribution without rigorous testing and development. In other words, there really are no development-level tools in Deb. While some are still denoted as “dev,” even these packages have undergone a more stringent testing process than many of the tools found in a commercially-oriented distribution. In other words, Deb users and developers have raised the bar for functionality of Linux tools. Deb may not always have the highest version number, not utilize the most current kernel. In this case, that’s okay. You can believe that A 2.2r5 Deb release is as stable as more “advanced” versions of the other distros.

Another reason for the stability of Deb is the process necessary for its installation and configuration. During the install process, the user must select packages to install rather than deselect extras. It sounds like a small difference, but it’s crucial in maintaining a small base installation. I found that I was much more likely to work my way through each option and give serious thought as to whether a particular tool was actually necessary. I had to think my way through this install because that’s what the process required. It such a subtle difference in philosophy that some may initially miss its value. In the end, this approach means that you’re building the system from the ground up rather than starting with anything at all that might be extraneous. It’s a lot of work, but it seems to be well worth the effort.

You’ve heard much about the apt-get system in Deb. It’s a remarkable system for updating, upgrading and installing applications from a ‘net connection. I’ll tell you right off the bat that it works wonderfully. Updating and installing applications simply could not be easier. This ease even extends to updating and upgrading your entire distribution. Though that thought made me a bit nervous initially, I’ve not had a single problem. Again, I’m finding a high level of confidence that when these updates are released they do, in fact, work as they’re supposed to.

Apt-get is also consistent with a lean and mean build of Deb. Again, though the process is quite easy, the procedure begs for some thought as to the necessity of the install. I’m far less likely to add fru-fru to my machine at the end of that thought process. The result is easily the thinnest Linux distro I’ve had, and yet possibly one of the most focused and powerful.

I followed Steve’s guide philosophically, as well. When I downloaded the kernel source (2.4.17), I compiled my kernel with no modules. Everything I needed was built in. It’s truly a monolithic kernel. It’s also surprising how little I actually needed to get my system up and functioning. It meant that I had to have an intimate knowledge of my hardware, but that seems integral to the classic (and non-pejorative) definition of a “hacker.” Truly, I didn’t mind. True to form, the result of the considerable effort to thin the kernel code is a machine that runs more efficiently than any I’ve had before. It seems like a very sweet fruit for labor I love to begin with.

Tomorrow, we’ll talk about some of the available choices for apps in Debian, bearing in mind the “don’t need it, don’t get it” philiosophy that makes Debian a rock-solid distribution.

Tony
Steidler-Dennison