Most packages have many options that they can be configured and built with. However, not everyone needs or wants all of them. For example, I may not want to compile a package with arts options since I don't use KDE. In another distro we have to use flags on the configure command line like:

configure --without-arts

Since we don't do this directly in Gentoo this handled with the USE flag. The USE flag tells Gentoo what options to build the package with. For example if you have a package who has an option to build with xmms you can specify xmms in USE and the package will be built with xmms. It's like specifying --with-xmms on the configure line. Conversely, -xmms says do NOT configure with the xmms option. By default, if a flag is not unset (has - in front of it in the USE variable) it is considered set and the package is compiled with that option.

As above since I don't use KDE I have -arts -qt -KDE in my USE variable.

Please note that the USE flag only applies to optional components for a package. If a package must have xmms to run then it will be compiled with xmms no matter what your USE variable is.

On Thu, 21 Aug 2003 09:38:09 -0400
 Lloyd D Budd <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
Hi,

I am trying to better understand flags. I believe I have reviewed each
of the related documents, but I am still not sure of the impact of -flag
when in an ebuild?


For example when I 'emerge -pv xfree' the output is:
x11-base/xfree-4.3.0-r3 [4.3.0-r2] -3dfx -sse -mmx -3dnow -xml2
+truetype +nls -cjk +doc -ipv6 -debug -static


Does this mean that debug is not avialable? ie USE='debug' will have no
possible effect. Or does this ean that I can optionally remove debug
using USE='-debug'?


Cheers,
Lloyd


-- [EMAIL PROTECTED] mailing list



--
[EMAIL PROTECTED] mailing list



Reply via email to