lfs-book/preface/whoread.xml

<sect1 id="pre-whoread">
<title>Who would want to read this book</title>

<para>
There are a lot of reasons why somebody would want to read this book in
order to install an LFS system. The question most people raise is "why 
go through all the hassle of manually installing a Linux system from 
scratch when you can just download an existing version like Debian or 
Redhat". That is a valid question which I hope to answer for you.
</para>

<para>
The most important reason for LFS's existence is teaching people how a
Linux system works internally. Building an LFS system teaches you about
all that makes Linux tick, how things work together, and depend on each
other. And most importantly, how to customize it to your own taste and
needs.
</para>

<para>
One of the key benefits of LFS is that you are in control over your
system without having to rely on somebody else's Linux implementation
like Debian. You are in the driver's seat now and are able to dictate
every single thing such as the directory layout and boot script setup.
You will also know exactly where, why and how programs are installed.
</para>

<para>
Another benefit of LFS is that you can create a very compact Linux
system. When you install a distribution like Debian or RedHat, you end
up installing a lot of programs you would never in your life use.
They're just sitting there taking up (precious) disk space. It's not
hard to get an LFS system installed under 100 MB. Does that still sound
like a lot? A few of us have been working on creating a very small
embedded LFS system. We installed a system that was just enough to run
the Apache web server; total disk space usage was aproximately 8 MB.
With further stripping, that can be brought down to 5 MB or less. Try
that with a generic Debian or Redhat distribution.
</para>

<para>
If we were to compare a Linux distribution with a hamburger you buy at a
supermarket or fast-food restaurant, you would end up eating it without
knowing precisely what it is you are eating, whereas LFS gives you the
ingredients to make a hamburger. This allows you to carefully inspect
it, remove unwanted ingredients, and at the same time allow you to add
ingredients to enhance the flavour of your hamburger. When you are
satisfied with the ingredients, you go on to the next part of putting it
together. You now have the chance to make it just the way you like it:
broil it, bake it, deep-fry it, barbeque it, or eat it raw.
</para>

<para>
Another analogy that we can use is that of comparing LFS with a finished
house. LFS will give you the skeleton of a house, but it's up to you to
install plumbing, electrical outlets, kitchen, bathtub, wallpaper, etc.
</para>

<para>
Another advantage of a custom built Linux system is added security. You
will compile the entire system from source, thus allowing you to audit
everything, if you wish to do so, and apply all the security patches you
want or need to apply. You don't have to wait for somebody else to
provide a new binary package that fixes a security hole. Besides, you
have no guarantee that the new package actually fixes the problem
(adequately). You never truly know whether a security hole is fixed or
not unless you do it yourself.
</para>

</sect1>