tronkel wrote:WhoDo wrote:
Woof is a build system like Unleashed. It isn't a "Puppy version(sic)" in its own right.
Eventually the Woof build system could become so easy to use to build a DIY flavour of Puppy, that even an inexperienced end-user could build his own ISO. This depends on providing a GUI front-end to run whatever build scripts are necessary .
This sort of easy customisation might blow away any desire on the part of the end-user to even consider using the "old-fashioned" Unleashed Puppy series(s).
Hence my prediction in the previous post about eclipsing all previous Puppy versions. I could be wrong though!
I think you are right on target!
I started using linux about 4 months ago with Ubuntu on my laptop, I then decided after a couple weeks to try my hand at Archlinux with an old computer I had in the attic just to see if I could get it installed after hearing so much about it.
What I found was I learned more about linux from doing an Arch install and having to setup and basically compile my own system from the "ground up" then I did any other way, and I had a ball doing it.
For those not familiar with Archlinux installs. You start by installing a very basic system that leaves you with nothing but a command propt on the screen!, and this after you have manually edited the configuration files for xorg and all other aspects of the system for hours. You then download and configure each separate package from the repository including the desktop environment that you choose. I have tried most of the DE available for Linux under Arch.
And the thing is people LOVE it, and really enjoy building their own system this way. The "Archway" as they call it.
And as I already said I did this as a new Linux user, Yes it took me literally all night of reading through instructions and the wiki and forum, and figuring out all the hardware for the old machine I put it on, but I learned more about Linux doing it than I would have any other way. And it gives you a great sense of satisfaction that you have "built" your own system the way you want it.
I forsee and predict that Woof will be like Archlinux has become to many as a way to make your own customized sytem that fits your needs and hardware. But better then Archlinux it will have Barry's incredible layered squash file system making it portable and diverse to many more applications.
If we think about why any of us are here using Puppy the one great motivator is it's fun! It's addictive, as Barry always says, and it is a great hobby where you are always learning. I think that is what motivates most Linux users. Yes, there are some windows refugees that just want a simple system that works and is free, but I think more Linux users are the former variety; and as such, the average Linux user is going to be someone that wants to learn what is "under the hood" and play with their system.
There is no better way to do that when to "build your own system" something that Arch and Gentoo gave users the ability to do already, and now Barry is in a whole new way.
I think more people are going to be willing to take the time to learn how to do it with Woof then you might think.
I was holding off on trying it out because of my inexperience and uncertainty with the alpha version after hearing about conflicts with the compiling of packages, but after reading of everyones experiences and enthusiasm I am going to have to give it a try!
Tom