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Where?

Perhaps he meant trasparent x-chat?

I guy I work with used to use Sorcerer Linux. He switched to Gentoo after the second time it's package manager removed glibc on him. Not sure how it happened, but it did happen twice.

I dunno about Sorceror, but Gentoo supports distcc, to distribute the compile load over your network, as part of Portage. On a large network I wouldn't trade away native distcc support for anything, it's just a wonderful feature.

I think that's one of Gentoo's strenghts, integrating support for things to speed up compile jobs, like ccache and distcc - and the sheer number of developers makes portage an ever changing, ever growing pile of packages - I think we have +4000 packages right now (still some catching up to do with Ports and Debian though).

While Sorceror might be nice, I would give Gentoo a shot simply because it seems to be where the action is at right now in the source based meta distros.

I had Sorceror installed back before Kyle did the license change to the "closed" open source license, that made me switch distros.. So I was wondering since the website doesn't seem to mention it - is Sorceror still under Kyles special license or has it been freed?

I wouldn't use sorceror, a Linux distribution should be GPL. Which Sorceror is not. Shame on them for changing licenses.

Shame on them for using their own license?

Its very similar to the BSD license, which is hardly "evil".

And remember, all the packages they distribute are GPL. They can't change the license on that.

Gentoo zealots are at it again, in ignorance.

If you want the GPL fork of Sorcerer, use Source Mage. If you don't like the druidist names, use Lunar Linux, which is also a sorcerer fork.

Did Kyle change his license to something not non-free? If so, great! If not, there's always choice. Last I heard, Kyle was complaining that he didn't "intend" to GPL sorcerer when he closed it up over the Lunar fork (which _then_ precipitated the Source Mage fork that almost all the Sorcerer community who didn't go to Lunar switched to).

That's my understanding anyways.

I wish Kyle the best of luck, but it's GPL-only for me.

Gentoo's number of packages is nearing 6000.

:D

I checked out the sorceror page and couldn't find this controversial license that has been mentioned. I did however read the mediocre install docs that say that it's not permissable to copy and redistribute those docs, but where is this infamous license?

THe sorcerer website might install GPL programs but the actual package management system is not open.
If they have an open-style license they should proudly display it on the website.
The fact that the entire site neglects to mention their license I take as a sign that they are
a) still not open to users input
b) still not open to having developers discuss their code

I used sorcerer, but switched to Source Mage when sorcerer was removed from the internet overnight. That is not what someone does when they want valuable input from users and want users to become actively involved in the project developement.

Another distro, another way to pack and unpack softs, another way to install, another way to configure it, another way to understant how it works ...

I really dont see the advantages of having yet another Linux Distro, since it doesn't bring anything really new but energy and time dissipation ....

I would have to say this is the only comment on this page that makes any sense.

I tried SourceMage (or Sourcerer, can't remember), and didn't even finish the install. My issue was that wanted you to compile and install everything, reboot, *THEN* update the "spell" database and recompile the new stuff. Waste of effort and time. I'm not a huge fan of Gentoo, but at least the let you update during the install so you only have to do compiles once.

Until you update 2 weeks later, that is.

I'm sorry, but that generally takes at least one hour, and more on 1GHz machines. This guy is not putting it straight...

He really should try lunar BTW, comes with distcc in the bin. Much better and richer set of packages too, and wider developer support. Lunar BTW is the GPL fork of sorcerer, IOW the group of devs that took sorcerer's original GPL'ed work into the open. SourceMage also stems from that period about a year and a half back now.

Although gentoo is wider in use, people tend to whine about "why another distro". Just ask yourself: If I *could* do it better myself, *would* I?

On page one the author claims X compiles for him in 15 minutes... HOW!?

-- Public Service Announcement --
I run an Athlon 1.4 with 768mb ram and have used several source based distros on it (yes, right now it's Gentoo) and to claim X compiles in 15 minutes is ludicrous! Unless I'm nuts there's aboslutely no way his machine is doing it in 15 minutes.

I think you should get your facts straight. Source Mage doesn't do this and I doubt that Sorcerer would either.
there would be no point in compiling software during install unless it was the latest version, or a peripheral piece of software that not all users would want.

I tried this when it first started some years ago. There was a big fight because Kyle Sallee, the founder, had no job and was depressed. Well, the development was almost all his, and no one could help or else he would tell them to stop and not use their work. Then he did allow help but complained that everyone was against him. Then he decided that he would cease the distribution, and told everyone they had no right to use any of it. Even though it was GPLd. So naturally there are several forks, mentioned above. First Lunar, and then others.

No matter what I would never recommend that anyone depend on this distribution, because that means having some dependance on Kyle Sallee, and he has shown himself to be unreliable and even perhaps mentally unstable.

Sorceror was my first source-based distro. After the big fight I looked into gentoo and am happy there. If people want to "cast spells" or so on at their command line more power to them. But I think you should remember that it was this unemployed guy who thought everyone was out to get him that came up with this whole "cast spells" thing to be a sys admin. For most it's a joke or some small choice of words, but I think it was a unhealthy sign with this guy.

OK so you have my view. I hope this informs someone not to put Kyle Sallee in the position that you depend on him for anything.

But haven't you answered your own criticism? You criticize Kyle Sallee in the context of reliability, but ignore the fact that any one distribution could be gone tomorrow, GPL or no. If your favorite distro is no longer developed, supported, available, etc., what do you do? You switch! Heck, you might get bored and switch anyway. I'm convinced that one doesn't need Kyle to keep running Sorcerer. If you read the license that Sorcerer is distributed under, you will find no restriction as to use of Sorcerer. In fact, from the terms of the license, Kyle could not revoke your rights to use Sorcerer, AND you would still be free to distribute Sorcerer (unmodified, but you could distribute modifications as long as they were distributed separately and you have to maintain Kyle's copyrights). Such a scenario may not be for everyone, not merely the GPL purists, but the technically 'less-abled.' Of course, that would mean that you'd have to do your own work, or engage others to share the work ala any other non-comercially engaged distribution, which means that you'd have to keep up with the application changes, so that updates would continue to be available within the Sorcerer framework.

As for some of the other comments:

Yes, I meant transparent X-Chat.

My claim that X compiles under Sorcerer in 15 minutes. Hmmm, two possiblities: 1) it was an error, or 2) it was a devious attempt to disparage Lunar, Gentoo and any other source-based distribution. I guess since I mentioned a couple of times how long it takes to compile, cast, etc., I would tend to think it was an error. GASP! Yes, it really takes about 55 minutes to cast XFree86. Mea culpa.

A general comment about other source-based distributions. I haven't tried any other than Sorcerer (only so much time and so many resources). My use of Sorcerer was through work, and we've been entirely satisfied. However, if you run a different distro, by all means trumpet that fact, but be specific about why you are so devoted. Personally, I haven't used a distro I haven't loved. I wish I could use all 150+. From this I've learned that Gentoo has 6000 packages (that's about 5500 more than I would ever use) and has distcc (so does Sorcerer and other distros). Just remember, for every great story about yor favorite distro, there will be a sob story about how it didn't work for someone else. I've been involved in adminstering Sorcerer on several desktops and have never had a serious problem, but I've seen others get fed up and dump it.

Anyway thanks for all the comments (well, maybe all except the "Linux is a piece of crap" comment.

Rob