Gentoo Linux facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Gentoo Linux

Gentoo Logo
Gentoo Linux Live USB running KDE
Company / developer	Gentoo Foundation
Programmed in	C, Perl, sh, and Python
OS family	Linux (Unix-like)
Working state	Current
Source model	Open source
Initial release	31 March 2002; 23 years ago (2002-03-31)
Package manager	Portage
Supported platforms	IA-32, x86-64, IA-64, PA-RISC (HPPA), PowerPC 32/64, SPARC 64-bit, DEC Alpha, ARM 32/64, MIPS
Kernel type	Monolithic (Linux kernel)
Userland	GNU, With support for non-GNU userlands
Default user interface	CLI, with support for various window managers and desktop environments
License	Free software

Gentoo Linux (pronounced JEN-too) is a special kind of Linux distribution. It's built using a system called Portage. Unlike many other software systems, Gentoo usually builds programs right on your computer. This means the programs can be made to work super well with your specific computer parts.

Gentoo is known for being very flexible. It's like a "meta-distribution" because users can set it up in many unique ways. Most Gentoo users have their own special setup of programs and settings.

The name Gentoo Linux comes from the gentoo penguin. This penguin is the fastest swimmer among all penguins! The name was chosen to show how fast and optimized Gentoo Linux can be on your computer.

History of Gentoo Linux

Gentoo Linux was first made by Daniel Robbins. He called it Enoch Linux at first. His idea was to create a system that didn't use pre-made programs. Instead, it would build everything from scratch, perfectly tuned for each computer.

Later, Daniel Robbins changed the name to "Gentoo" Linux. He worked on making the system even faster. Gentoo Linux 1.0 was officially released on March 31, 2002.

In 2004, Daniel Robbins created the Gentoo Foundation. This is a non-profit group that now owns Gentoo's copyrights and trademarks. He then stepped down from leading the project.

Today, a group of five trustees and a seven-member Gentoo Council help run the project. They make sure Gentoo keeps improving and stays strong.

Cool Features of Gentoo

Gentoo is great for people who want total control over their computer's software. If you're willing to spend some time setting it up, you can make a very efficient computer system.

Gentoo lets you build your computer's "brain" (the Linux kernel) specifically for your hardware. This means you can choose exactly which parts of the system are installed and running. You can even pick different ways for your system to start up, like systemd or OpenRC. This can help your computer use less memory and run faster.

Gentoo has a huge collection of software available. When you install a program, Gentoo automatically figures out all the other small programs it needs to work. You can also choose special features for each program, like if it needs to connect to certain services.

Portage: Gentoo's Software Manager

Installing software. In this example, Darktable will build with Flickr and geolocation support.

Portage is Gentoo's main system for managing software. Think of it like an "app store" for Gentoo. It was inspired by similar systems used by Berkeley Software Distribution (BSD) operating systems. The Gentoo system has over 19,000 programs ready for you to install.

With one simple command, emerge, you can update your software list, search for programs, or download, build, and install programs. You can also use "USE flags" to turn on or off special features for programs.

For some very large programs, like LibreOffice or Mozilla Firefox, Gentoo offers pre-built versions. This saves you time because you don't have to wait for them to compile. However, if you use these, you can't customize their features as much.

Recently, in December 2023, Gentoo announced that it will offer more pre-built programs. This means you can install many common programs much faster, especially on modern computers.

Running Gentoo on Different Computers

Gentoo is very flexible and can run on many different types of computers. This is called "portability." Because Gentoo builds programs from their source code, it's easier to make them work on various computer designs.

Gentoo started on older computers (IA-32). Now, it officially works well on many modern computer architectures. These include x86-64 (what most home computers use), PowerPC, SPARC, and ARM (used in many phones and small devices).

There are also projects to make Gentoo work on other operating systems. For example, the Gentoo/Alt project is working to get Portage (Gentoo's software manager) to run on systems like FreeBSD and even macOS.

How to Install Gentoo

You can install Gentoo in a few ways. The most common way is to use a special "minimal CD" along with a "stage3 tarball." A tarball is like a compressed folder with basic files. You can install Gentoo from almost any other Linux system. You usually need an internet connection for the installation.

On April 3, 2022, Gentoo released a new official image with a graphical user interface (GUI). This "LiveGUI image" can be put on a USB drive. It comes with many programs already included, like the KDE Plasma 5 desktop, image editors, and office software. This makes installing Gentoo much easier for new users.

After the first steps, the Gentoo installation guide usually tells you to build a new Linux kernel. This sounds hard, but Gentoo provides tools like Genkernel to help. You can also use an existing kernel or install a pre-built one to make it simpler.

Gentoo Versions and Updates

Gentoo uses a "rolling release" model. This means that instead of big new versions every year, Gentoo is constantly updated. You just keep updating your system, and it always has the latest software.

Gentoo used to release new installation CDs a few times a year. But since 2008, they mostly offer weekly updates instead. In 2009, they made a special "Live DVD" to celebrate Gentoo's 10th birthday.

Special Gentoo Releases

Gentoo has released some special versions over the years.

Gentoo Profiles

Gentoo uses "profiles" to set up how programs are built and installed. When there are big changes to the system, you might need to update your profile. This could mean rebuilding some of your installed software. Profiles are named by the year they were released.

Hardened Gentoo for Extra Security

"Hardened Gentoo" is a special project. It adds extra tools and settings to make your Gentoo system super secure. This is useful if you need very strong protection for your computer.

Recent Events

In June 2018, the Gentoo code storage (on GitHub) was hacked. An attacker got into an administrator's account. Gentoo quickly fixed the problem and made their security even better. No important security keys or signed programs were harmed. The system was back to normal in five days.

Gentoo's Logo and Mascots

The official Gentoo logo is a stylish 'g' that looks like a silver magatama. This shape is a traditional Japanese bead.

Gentoo also has unofficial mascots. These include Larry The Cow and Znurt the Flying Saucer.

Other Systems Based on Gentoo

Many other computer systems have been created using Gentoo Linux as a base. One well-known example is ChromiumOS, which is the foundation for Chromebook computers.

See also

In Spanish: Gentoo Linux para niños

• Arch Linux
• Linux From Scratch
• T2 SDE