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<sect1 id="pre-foreword">
  <?dbhtml filename="foreword.html"?>

  <title>前言</title>

<para>从 1998 年起，我开始了长达十余年的学习和深入理解 Linux 的旅程。
	当时我刚刚安装了我的第一个 Linux 发行版，
	并迅速被 Linux 背后的整个设计理念和哲学所折服。
</para>



<!--para>There are always many ways to accomplish a single task. The same can be
said about Linux distributions. A great many have existed over the years.  Some
still exist, some have morphed into something else, yet others have been
relegated to our memories.  They all do things differently to suit the needs of
their target audience.  Because so many different ways to accomplish the same
end goal exist, I began to realize I no longer had to be limited by any one
implementation. Prior to discovering Linux, we simply put up with issues in
other Operating Systems as you had no choice. It was what it was, whether you
liked it or not. With Linux, the concept of choice began to emerge.  If you
didn't like something, you were free, even encouraged, to change it.</para-->

<para>为了完成一项工作，人们总是能提出很多不同的方法。对于 Linux 发行版来说，
	情况也是这样。多年来诞生了许多发行版，其中一些仍然生存，
	另外一些已经被其他发行版吸收，还有的已经消亡，成为我们的回忆。
	这些发行版各有特色，以满足它们的目标人群的需求。
	我们可以用许多不同方法达成最终目标，
	我开始意识到并不需要将自己的思维约束在发行版这一种实现方法上。
	在发现 Linux 之前，我们只能忍受其他操作系统的种种不足，因为我们没有其他选择，
	操作系统的行为不以我们的意志为转移。然而，自由选择的理念随着 Linux 的诞生而出现。
	如果你不喜欢某种行为，就可以自由地改变它。这在 Linux 世界中甚至是受到鼓励的。
</para>

<!--para>I tried a number of distributions and could not decide on any one. They
were great systems in their own right. It wasn't a matter of right and
wrong anymore. It had become a matter of personal taste. With all that
choice available, it became apparent that there would not be a single
system that would be perfect for me. So I set out to create my own Linux
system that would fully conform to my personal preferences.</para-->

<para>我曾经尝试了许多发行版，但无法做出最终决定。它们各有特色，都是很不错的系统。
	这里不存在对与错的问题，而是系统是否符合个人口味的问题。在各种选择中，
	显然不存在一种发行版完美地符合我的要求。因此我开始创造自己的 Linux 系统，
	以完全符合我的个人喜好。 </para>

<!--para>To truly make it my own system, I resolved to compile everything from
source code instead of using pre-compiled binary packages. This
<quote>perfect</quote> Linux system would have the strengths of various
systems without their perceived weaknesses. At first, the idea was rather
daunting. I remained committed to the idea that such a system could be
built.</para-->

<para> 为了构建出真正属于我自己的系统，我决定从源代码编译所有东西，
	而不使用预先编译的二进制包。
	这个<quote>完美的</quote> Linux 系统将会兼具不同系统的优点，
	同时扬弃它们的不足。这个想法初听上去非常可怕。
	然而，我仍然坚信这个系统可以被构建出来。 </para>

<!--para>
After sorting through issues such as circular dependencies and compile-time
errors, I finally built a custom-built Linux system. It was fully
operational and perfectly usable like any of the other Linux systems out
there at the time. But it was my own creation. It was very satisfying to
have put together such a system myself. The only thing better would have
been to create each piece of software myself. This was the next best
thing.</para-->

<para> 在整理了循环依赖和编译错误等问题后，我终于构建出自己定制的 Linux 系统。
	它完全可以工作，并且像当时的其他 Linux 系统一样完美可用。
	不同的是，这是我自己的创造，亲手组装出这样的系统是非常有成就感的。
	唯一能够让我更开心的事情是亲自编写一个软件系统。 </para>

<!--para>As I shared my goals and experiences with other members of the Linux
community, it became apparent that there was a sustained interest in these
ideas. It quickly became plain that such custom-built Linux systems
serve not only to meet user specific requirements, but also serve as an
ideal learning opportunity for programmers and system administrators to
enhance their (existing) Linux skills. Out of this broadened interest, the
<emphasis>Linux From Scratch Project</emphasis> was born.</para-->

<para> 当我向其他 Linux 社区成员推广我的目标和经验时，大家对这些想法兴趣盎然。
	很快大家发现，这些自行定制的 Linux 系统不仅能够满足用户的特殊需求，
	而且对于程序员和系统管理员来说是一个很好的提高 Linux 技能的学习机会。
	随着越来越多的人对这一主题的关注，
	<emphasis>Linux From Scratch 项目</emphasis> 诞生了。</para>

<!--para>This Linux From Scratch book is the central core around that project. It
provides the background and instructions necessary for you to design and
build your own system. While this book provides a template that will result
in a correctly working system, you are free to alter the instructions to
suit yourself, which is, in part, an important part of this project. You
remain in control; we just lend a helping hand to get you started on your
own journey.</para-->

<para>这本 Linux From Scratch 手册是这一项目的核心内容，
	它将教会您亲自设计和构建系统的足够知识。
	本书提供了一个构建能够正常工作的系统的样板，您可以自由地调整本书中的命令，
	来满足您自己的要求，这也是本项目的重要组成部分。您始终掌握自己的系统，
	我们只是在您起步时提供微小的帮助。 </para>

<!--para>I sincerely hope you will have a great time working on your own Linux From
Scratch system and enjoy the numerous benefits of having a system that is
truly your own.</para-->

<para> 我真诚地祝愿您能够在您自己的 Linux From Scratch 系统上体验快乐，
	并享受这一真正属于您自己的系统的无数好处。 </para>

<literallayout>--
Gerard Beekmans
gerard@linuxfromscratch.org</literallayout>

</sect1>
