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KLUG-ers:
Well, I was just starting to feel pretty slick.
Compiling kernels, setting up PPP, wading through this huge cluster to get my
computer to "feel right" to me with Linux (BSWare 5.2 now, was
Slackware). Now I am trying to get some applications to work (window
managers, ICQ, x11amp 0.9, etc.) and at every turn, I find out I have to install
new versions of lots and lots libraries and update all there weird things that I
don't remember installing. For instance, last night, I downloaded the new
version of x11amp. I extract the files, configure and type make. It
chugs and churns along for a while and pukes out. Apparently, I need a new
version of gtk+. I download a new rpm of gtk+ and it won't install because
I need to upgrade imlib. I get imlib and it won't install because I have
libc5 instead of glib (libc 6?). What the heck is a libc?!? I know
it has something to do with the dynamic linker. That's all I
know.
Anyway, my point is that it seems like SO MUCH WORK to do the
littlest things. I spend tons of time searching the web and scouring FTP
sites for stuff to update programs I never heard of that are required by
programs I want and so on. It's a real drag.
How in the world does everyone else do this? Am I making
things harder than they need to be? When I was using Slackware, I didn't
seem to have problems like this NEARLY as often. It could be that I didn't
experiment as much. I don't know. I feel like I've missed some
fundamentals here. I know a bunch of commands and I can write some neat
regular expressions so I feel pretty studly. Until I find out I can only
dial out with pppd if I'm root and now I'm back to the chase, reading mountains
of HOWTO's and trying to figure out why.
Now my question... Is there a book(s) or web site or
tutorial or anything that will help me get some fundamentals? I am usually
pretty smart with computers, in general. I did some Novell administration,
I program the darned things for a living. I never learned Unix, I'm
learning from trial and error like I do most things and I just can't "get
it." With the nicely wrapped distributions of Linux, it's pretty easy
to get from zero to sixty, but it's quite a test to "get
it."
So what do you say? Recommendation?
Suggestions? I'd love to hear them.
I don't mind re-installing the OS from time to time to undo a
mess I get myself into. I've done that many time now :) and every time, I
learn a bit more about Linux, its operation and the way things seems fit
together.
Thanks, and I apologize for my scattery, rambling
e-mail.
-Cj
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