nrc

I think I followed this guide when I made the switch:
https://wiki.gentoo.org/wiki/Multilib_System_without_emul-linux_Packages
 
Maybe there were also some threads in the Gentoo forums, I don't remember.

Libreoffice is definitely one to go with the binary package if possible. There was something I didn't like about the binary package - the branding, I think - so I installed the full package and it took something over 14 hours on my laptop for that package alone.
 
I probably only update my laptop monthly and then only if there's something worthwhile or important.

/tmp is tmpfs but that sees minimal use.   Swap and /var/tmp are on SSD.   I don't see a lot of swap use but I don't do a lot of heavy multi-tasking on this unit.  I have it tuned for just two threads on builds because the CPU is really the bottleneck here.
 
Yes, there's some concern about wear on the SSD from builds but all my reading suggests the SSD should easily outlive the useful life of this laptop.
 
Just to be clear, when I say it takes "a while" I mean many hours.  I didn't really keep track of how long the original builds took but an update of 60 packages just took about 10 hours.   This is no big deal for the way I use this laptop. 

I run Funtoo on a Dell Latitude 13 with 2G of memory and a 1.3Ghz Celeron.  Originally it had a 16G SSD and it was fine but I installed 128G when I had to replace the drive cable.
 
It takes a while to build everything but I mainly use it as an ultra-portable for travel so there's no reason to update it all that often.

Seems like we could use a HOWTO on this.   I've had emul-linux-x86-opengl and some other 32 bit libraries installed to support a variety of things including Steam.  I deleted the app-emulation packages but when I try setting abi_x86_32 on packages in package.use I get a pile of blocking message which I'm reading to say that it thinks I'm telling it to compile only 32 bit versions.

Installed without issues today.  Nothing earthshaking but it's progress.  I like alt-tab cycling through the windows as a list.
 
Of course xfce4-mixer still works fine. I'm just wondering what "not maintained" means for the future.

No problem right now.   I ask because the release notes for xfce 4.12 say that xfce4-mixer and xfce4-volumed will no longer be maintained because  gstreamer1.0 dropped the mixer-interface.    I currently use xfce4-mixer to control volume and mute or unmute devices.

Good to see.  I'll look forward to it appearing in portage.  I hope that as XFCE starts moving to GTK3 they'll avoid client side decorations or any of the other "mobile-like" features.   I don't need my desktop to look like a tablet.
 
What's the preferred replacement for xfce-mixer?

There are plenty of distros that support systemd.  I believe that it's important that someone is doing the work to make a Linux distro that works without systemd.   The developers are tackling a complicated problem with upstream projects that are not always supportive (one might even say they're hostile) to their goal.   Unless the goal is to attract more users for the sake of having more users it makes no sense to compromise that effort by splitting the userbase and the development effort between installs with and without systemd.

I dug up your thread.  It's certainly an odd reaction to people doing what open source is supposed to be all about.
 
There's this vicious circle in the reasoning around systemd.   On one hand if you complain that systemd is too monolithic or has consumed too many other projects they will explain that systemd is modular and you can replace those pieces if you don't want to use theirs.  But then if you propose to replace one of those components or just work around it they will explain that it's really not practical to do so because everything is so interdependent and everything is going to start depending on their pieces anyway.
 
I suppose a rolling release source based distribution is never going to be hugely popular, but I'm surprised that we're not seeing more growth here given how much some people like to complain about systemd.
 

There are plenty of distros that support systemd.  I believe that it's important that someone is doing the work to make a Linux distro that works without systemd.   The developers are tackling a complicated problem with upstream projects that are not always supportive (one might even say they're hostile) to their goal.   Unless the goal is to attract more users for the sake of having more users it makes no sense to compromise that effort by splitting the userbase and the development effort between installs with and without systemd.

XFCE4

There are plenty of distros that support systemd.  I believe that it's important that someone is doing the work to make a Linux distro that works without systemd.   The developers are tackling a complicated problem with upstream projects that are not always supportive (one might even say they're hostile) to their goal.   Unless the goal is to attract more users for the sake of having more users it makes no sense to compromise that effort by splitting the userbase and the development effort between installs with and without systemd.

Thanks, digifuzzy.  I'll just add that if anyone considers this thread to be a flamewar they must be a sensitive soul indeed.

I am a "systemd refugee". I chose to leave other distributions because of their insistence on using software that caused me all sorts of grief. A program/daemon cannot exist that saves devs/admins from themselves. I should not have to resort to pkill to take down a service. Its not about being a control freak, but does the user have control over the computer without being second guessed by some arbitrary program? With funtoo, I have that assurance the computer will do exactly what I tell it and if it fails I have the confidence to correct without shrugging my shoulders at the machinations of some undocumented black box program.
 
edited...
 
As has been pointed out - sure there are "needs" for systemd as other applications or libraries depend on it. I am greatful that funtoo doesn't enable this by default. For those who are "ripping out" these dependencies - Kudos! Please keep doing that. And to the funto admins - Please,please - don't enable systemd. Thank you.

There's no need to be combative here. I see no no problem with documenting how to get it working for those who want to try it (although I'm not sure those instructions are 100% correct) so long as they understand that it is not officially supported (and while systemd does work in Funtoo it is necessary to restore certain ebuilds to the their Gentoo variants). There are actually quite a few Funtoo users using systemd because while they want systemd, they also want Funtoo be their underlying ecosystem so I see no reason to remove it.

In any case, it is not entirely systemd I dislike but rather the exponentially growing insistence that it must be used and the removal of support for any other alternatives and without a proper transition period.

This is why I decided to deliver a complete (or nearly complete) GNOME 3.12+ experience without systemd.

P.S. Woodelf, I remember you from your one blog post regarding GNOME 3.12. For the record, it took me about a week if you count testing, not half a year :).

There are plenty of distros that support systemd.  I believe that it's important that someone is doing the work to make a Linux distro that works without systemd.   The developers are tackling a complicated problem with upstream projects that are not always supportive (one might even say they're hostile) to their goal.   Unless the goal is to attract more users for the sake of having more users it makes no sense to compromise that effort by splitting the userbase and the development effort between installs with and without systemd.

There are plenty of distros that support systemd.  I believe that it's important that someone is doing the work to make a Linux distro that works without systemd.   The developers are tackling a complicated problem with upstream projects that are not always supportive (one might even say they're hostile) to their goal.   Unless the goal is to attract more users for the sake of having more users it makes no sense to compromise that effort by splitting the userbase and the development effort between installs with and without systemd.

You nailed it:
 
... yes, and if we are critical or disagree we are apparently 'haters'. :wacko:
 
I did not 'hate' Lennart before, however reading his G+ whine encourages me to start!  :P
 
I am reminded of a child throwing a tantrum because they did not get their own way. Having no intentions to ever talk about this again on a public forum is very arrogant. No right of reply, no debate. I actually find this part the worst. 
 
Obviously I cannot speak of the challenges that our Funtoo Developers have previously faced or currently face. What I can say is that as a Funtoo User, the community that Lennart is describing is not the Funtoo Linux that I have come to know. This is not a 'fortunate' thing. This is instead a reflection of the good people that are together making Funtoo Linux great.  :D

Lennart Poettering has posted a whine to G+ about how mean everyone's being to him.
 
https://plus.google.com/app/basic/stream/z13rdjryqyn1xlt3522sxpugoz3gujbhh04
 
He blames this on the open source community and calls out Linus Torvalds specifically for setting a bad example. 
 
Of course Poettering fails to attribute any blame to his own history of being rude, obnoxious, and dismissive of anyone that disagrees with him.
 
I don't condone threats of harm or violence but welcome to the Internet, Lennart.  Yes, there are stupid and immature people in nearly every community, the Open Source community included.   But it's pathetic to suggest that these behaviors are somehow specific to the Open Source community or that Linus Torvalds bears some responsibility. 
 
Yes, Torvalds can be blunt but in all the cases where I've seen him lambaste someone, it's been a judgement on the quality of their work.  Don't develop software for public consumption if you don't want criticism of your work.
 
I think that's really the root of this rant.  Poettering believes that his work should be above criticism.  He feels like the adoption of systemd is proof of that when it's largely the result of funding and political machinations.
 
Thank drobbins we have an alternative.  Hopefully the rest of the Linux world will wake up eventually.

I wish I had the graphic talent to provide you with something worthy.  I did a search for appropriate symbols for systemd but this is all I could find...
 

 
Credit: http://www.codekid.net/index.php?itemid=2026

I wish I had the graphic talent to provide you with something worthy.  I did a search for appropriate symbols for systemd but this is all I could find...
 

 
Credit: http://www.codekid.net/index.php?itemid=2026

I wish I had the graphic talent to provide you with something worthy.  I did a search for appropriate symbols for systemd but this is all I could find...
 

 
Credit: http://www.codekid.net/index.php?itemid=2026

I wish I had the graphic talent to provide you with something worthy.  I did a search for appropriate symbols for systemd but this is all I could find...
 

 
Credit: http://www.codekid.net/index.php?itemid=2026

I wish I had the graphic talent to provide you with something worthy.  I did a search for appropriate symbols for systemd but this is all I could find...
 

 
Credit: http://www.codekid.net/index.php?itemid=2026