Linux selection

[Shaping]

I hope the Linux discussion is not too far off topic.  It might be useful to 
Windows weenies who have little or no exposure to Linux.


> Maybe they've fixed it since I tried it, but all I remember is this.
>
> * I want to install package A, so I tell RPM to install package A.
> * RPM says it needs package B.
> * I hunt down package B and tell RPM to install it.
> * RPM says it needs package C.
> * I hunt down....
>
> Here's what Debian's APT does:
>
> * I tell it to install package A.
> * It installs A, A's dependancies, A's dependancies' dependancies, A's 
> dependancies' dependancies' dependancies, and so on.

Sounds reasonable.  One of many things that disturbs me about Windows is the 
sheer number of times I have to reboot my system when installing/uninstalling 
apps or sometimes only when upgrading them.  I have a good chunk of my life tied 
up in those reboots.

>
> APT also intellegently performs upgrades. Even between major releases of 
> Debian. Even *without* rebooting. Even *without* leaving multiuser mode. One 
> by one it takes down a daemon, installs the replacement, then brings it back 
> up again before continuing to the next daemon. Replacing the kernel is 
> optional during a major upgrade; if you don't replace it then it doesn't 
> reboot. If you do replace it, then Debian keeps on running in full multiuser 
> mode after the upgrade but with the old kernel until you reboot. Last I heard, 
> major releases of RedHat require fresh installs.

So you *must* reboot (eventually) /only/ if the kernel is replaced?  What about 
after installing an app?

I will study Debian, Gentoo, and Ubuntu.  Debian sounds like your favorite.

Shaping