I have been using Mandrake since version 5.3, in fact, I learned linux
via mandrake and have always supported the distribution (yes, even with
buying copies...)
The one thing that I found as a begginer and even now that I am getting
truly familiar with the system, is that Mandrake, like most of the linux
distributions, is suffering from software bloat.
Too much is included with the base system. It confuses the user.
Alot gets installed, and never gets used.
A new user does not know what is needed and what isn't but they must
either accept the few hundred meg of software or go through a confusing
selection process that they have no way of understanding.
I have to say that I prefer mandrake over the others but, I think there
is a better method of handling this.
Mandrake should be split into a 'base' package and then all the other
packages put into stand alone installs.
What should be in the 'base'?
I would suggest X, a trimmed down version of KDE and all the graphical
configuration tools.
Why not emacs and joe and all the other handy-dandy utilities?
For the basic user, all those utilities just waste disk space.
Mandrake is filling the 'Entry level Linux' for windows users who want
to walk on the wild side.
There should be packages that maintain all the different possible uses a
person may want including things like Licq or Apache, but, these things
(including VNC) should not be standard parts of the installation.
The packages should be standalone in that they contain in one place all
the libs and required files so that when you install the package you do
not need to go looking for updates to other packages just so you can run
it.
This way, a end user can easily add to thier system without worrying
about getting other unneeded programs that might be security holes.
If a user wants emacs, install the emacs package, if they want to surf
the web, add a program that does it.
At our office, we remove all browsers and make sure the firewall stops
all such traffic, but the standard linux installs include Netscape as a
default choice.
The people who have made this distribution have done an excellent job,
but, too much of Redhats legacy of 'everything and the kitchen sink' has
got it bogged down.
What I am suggesting, is, stepping back and spliting the developement
into two areas
1) a very basic linux system with very little on it.
2) add-on packages to extend the basic system.
A basic system of 80-100 MB (even less if possible) that becomes the
stepping stone of the distribution that allows everything else to be
added would make downloads and installations faster and more reliable.
A smaller system with limited items in it allow the user to learn one
thing at a time instead of having everything in his face at once.
I hope I have not offended anyone with this suggestion, and that perhaps
it can lead to some discussion on how to make the distribution a little
better.
best regards
Dalton
