CRUX 2.4 is out

[Dapper Dan]

According to their release:

Tilman Sauerbeck has announced the release of CRUX 2.4, an independent, i686-optimised Linux distribution designed for power users: "We're happy to announce that CRUX 2.4 has been released." Some of the new features include: "Toolchain updates: includes glibc 2.6.1, GCC 4.2.2 and Binutils 2.18; X.Org 7.3, note that Xprint isn't supported any more; a new ISO image with an initial RAM file system (initramfs) that allows for some convenient features: the boot sequence now tries to automatically detect the CD-ROM drive, the CD can be unmounted, install can be completed remotely." See the release announcement and release notes for more information.

[MikeTbob]

I might give this a go, is it anything like Arch? I failed miserably when I tried to install that, but I gave up too easily. What kind of installation does CRUX use?

[oz]

CRUX is harder to install than Arch in my opinion, and it compiles from source, so if you don't like Gentoo you probably won't like CRUX. It took me a really long time to get my last CRUX box running and fully tweaked, but I've been thinking about going another round with it. It's the fastest distro I've ever used, or at least it felt that way to me.

Not sure, but I think Dapper Dan gets lonely having no other CRUX users around.

[Dapper Dan]

CRUX is harder to install than Arch in my opinion, and it compiles from source, so if you don't like Gentoo you probably won't like CRUX.

I agree ozar. CRUX is not for everyone, but once you get the hang of it, it really is quite fun and rewarding to build it up into exactly what you want. It is challenging, but that's what I like about it.

It took me a really long time to get my last CRUX box running and fully tweaked, but I've been thinking about going another round with it.

I think you'll agree that installing Crux now is even easier than it was before. I remember the first time I tried it was with 2.2 and they gave you almost nothing! Now, they include in the base install X windows with even a (gasp!) blackbox window manager!

It's the fastest distro I've ever used, or at least it felt that way to me.

Your senses were not decieving you. CRUX is so minimal that it is just screamingly fast! I've tried almost all the major distros except Arch and to me, CRUX is by far the fastest.

Not sure, but I think Dapper Dan gets lonely having no other CRUX users around.

Well, yeah... I'll admit it. It's kind of lonely being the only CRUX user on the board. What makes it difficult is knowing what a truly great distro it is and I seem to be one of the very few around who knows it. Maybe some of the more adventurous Linux users who lean toward Gentoo will give CRUX a go as they are both very similar. 2.3 has been really stable for me. I'm going to try 2.4 very soon.

[Dapper Dan]

What kind of installation does CRUX use?

Hi MikeTbob!

They have for downloading a very minimal .ISO that you burn and install. Once the installation is underway you can find very good documentation right there on the disk that gives step by step instructions on how to do everything. If I could figure it out, you should have no problems. After the basic install is done, you have to configure your connection from the command line. When you have Internet, it's a matter of installing the packages you want with ports or prt-get.

A few words of warning: I've tried installing Gnome twice on 2.2 and 2.4 and came up short both times. I can get the basics there, but achieving a fully functional Gnome desktop is almost impossible for me. The good news is, KDE installs very easily and you can get that fully functional relatively easily. I've not tried XFCE with CRUX as I always default to my tried and true IceWM.

If you DO decide to try CRUX, let it be the hot rod in the garage you tinker with on your days off. It's very challenging and not the type distro that's going to give you all the bells and whistles after installation. It takes time to add those things. When you do get it tweaked as you like it though, you'll have a rock solid OS that is faster than a scalded dog!

[bidi]

Ever since I started reading about the upcoming CRUX release I've been thinking about installing it as well. For one thing, I've always had a soft spot for those minimal distros and generally install nothing but the basics and go from there when installing Debian and Slackware (I know it's no the same).

I was wondering though, how is it compared to Gentoo? I tried installing that a while ago and could never get it to install correctly. I know they have a handbook, like Gentoo, but I'm wondering if it's the same.

Right now I'm pretty much looking for something that I can do some compiling and testing on (as I try to be as active as I can in the GNUstep project) so I would need something not only fast but also reliable (Debian is reliable but not very fast so I've been working with Slackware but I'm bored).

[Dapper Dan]

I was wondering though, how is it compared to Gentoo? I tried installing that a while ago and could never get it to install correctly. I know they have a handbook, like Gentoo, but I'm wondering if it's the same.

Hi bidi.

I haven't tried Gentoo in a while and I'm sure things are different now, but when I used it, you pretty much had to start from square one with an Internet connection and go from there. I understand Gentoo now has an installer cd you can use from which to build your system.

I was drawn to CRUX initially because the install cd was (a) a live cd I could try and play with, and (b) the install disk included basic packages that I would have had to install anyway to have a viable Linux system. With CRUX I felt I had a very good head start to having what I wanted so as not to have to suffer through a very long compile period.

Admittedly though, it's the speed that hooked me. It's so much faster than anything else I've ever used and, (in keeping with the CRUX philosophy of keeping things as simple as possible), kernel re-compiles are easy and far less time consuming than with some of the more full featured distros.

I cannot stress enough that it is definately a challenging distro. If you are like me and enjoy the challenge, CRUX is a pretty sweet alternative to the others.

[MikeTbob]

Hi Dan and bidi,
I can tell you straight up, if you want to try Gentoo, do not use the LiveCD method, it just don't work. I recommend the alternate install using Knoppix or an existing Linux installation.
Gentoo Linux Documentation -- The Gentoo Linux alternative installation method HOWTO
I have been using Gentoo for almost 1 year now and I plan on keeping it as my main OS unless I find something that I like more than Gentoo. I don't mind the long compile times because I usually just start the compile and go to bed.
I just like messing with things and trying new stuff, that's why I said I might try CRUX. Who knows, maybe I'll be able to help you someday Dan! =-}

[Dapper Dan]

Who knows, maybe I'll be able to help you someday Dan! =-}

lol... Mike, you are very modest! You give such good and helpful information out to our members that I always make sure I read your posts because I know I'll learn something from you!