Re: [MiNT] Gentoo FreeMiNT

[Paul Wratt <paul.wratt@gmail.com>]

On Wed, Feb 3, 2010 at 5:53 AM, Miro Kropacek <miro.kropacek@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>>
>> nor is berating someone because of their lack of knowledge,
>> frustration at the volume of unfinnished works, and general
>> instability which is the pride of out chosen platform. Try stick to
>> solutions and consise (not vague from newbies pov) answers, in the
>> same way they are provided to you
>
> You didn't get my point (or my English is too poor ;-) -- I open to help any
> newbie with problems like "how should I fix my xxxMiNT install in case I
> screw it up" and it's natural no one knows everything. I replied to Peter's
> let's say less then neutral notes about how Alan's initiative is pointless
> because it's another distro and WE ALL KNOW how incredible hard is to
> (re)install new system -- this statement is simply not true and that was my
> point. Alan's initiative is OK because if you decide to install his work,
> there is couple of experienced people who are able to help if something goes
> wrong and whole procedure may be question of a few minutes (or hours,
> depending on your computer :).
> That's all.
> --
> MiKRO / Mystic Bytes
> http://mikro.atari.org
>
No, your ingrish if fine :)

I agree, but that last statement:
"there is couple of experienced people who are able to help if
something goes wrong and whole procedure may be question of a few
minutes (or hours, depending on your computer :)."

Thats a direct quote from how many other failed distros? And that is
Peters true gripe, that EasyMiNT is not "easy enough". I am sure if it
was not for his persistence in using and adding to HighWire, he would
have given up on a full distro years ago. Peter is not alone in his
feeling on that subject, and there are many posts made to this day
still "mint is not stable enough, and is too much of a resource hog"

This is not a problem if there is a web page, help text, or solid
problem solving documentation, which is why we need the new wiki up ad
running ASAP. It is apparent from the installation docs I added, and
those that Jo has added, that there is a clear gap that needs to be
bridged just concerning MiNT and (anyAES) installations. A LOT of
users fall into that gap.

I stated that the content I provided was everything that I needed to
know to get MiNT to function proper (having started from scratch),
especially since it covered plain, simple, hacked, full and Easymint
installations. The crux of Jo's content is "keep it simple". ATM the
two clash, which is a result of MiNT as it is now. This again adds to
user woes (pain)

As for backups and such, testing and what not, even Jo abhors
(dislikes) the idea of doing anything that requires set or fixed
pathing to install properly, as it interferes with a good running
system. I know what is needed to get a full HD + backup system running
on a ST/e, and it is not a pretty task just to get it running
smoothly, let alone getting a backup to successfully install, such
users are generally loath to start from scratch with a new
installation, unless they have become fed up with what they have, or
feel the need for some excitement, a need to experience "life on the
edge"

Both the above is made a whole lot simpler by the use of CF cards, but
if you dont have one, or dont know you can have one, you are back to
square one again

To end this post, I would ask that you document as many processes as
you can from the work you undertake (and have been doing), even to the
point of code snippets, nothing flash, just get something down, if can
be organised, prettied and HTML/HYPed later

In the documentation I hope to provide on the SpareMiNT site, there is
a mountain of stuff available in the threads over the last few years,
a lot recently provided by yourself and Vincent. In fact there is
enough solid info from Vincent that it warrants its own title, Libre
de Vincent au GCC, or something

One final question for peeps, back on topic no less, has anyone tried
using what either Alan has supplied (Gentoo) or Mark (GCC 4.4.2/3
RPM's), there should be enough to get things up and running already,
both have done the base requirements, to the point where at least a
minimal GCC console setup is possible?

Paul