So, that I time I tried to install Gentoo and couldn't compile a kernel...And other stuff too. This is a ramble

Yes, I am reporting to you live from the Arch kiddie pool known as Garuda Linux (its actually really good, I am being silly)! Telling ya’ll that my overconfident ass got beat up by the complexity of installing Gentoo Linux. Having gotten used to doing some gradually more challenging things, I thought that finally, I had unlocked the shikai known as “Linux Knowledge”. Revealing a hidden ability to take on a challenge that many a nerd has struggled with: installing Gentoo Linux for the first time. Having built up too much unnecessary confidence was my first mistake (also trying to install it after being awake for over 20hrs). Like most naive fools, I started with writing Gentoo Linux (the minimal image, mind you) onto a USB drive. There was a swell of unearned competence forming behind my eyeballs as I read and mostly understood the instructions of the Gentoo Handbook. A mistake, I assure you dear reader that wasn’t caught by me until the horrors of the installation process caught up to me.

I was pretty proud of myself for figuring out how to check what type of drive I was using with the onboard command: fdisk. I successfully created and flagged the partitions which Gentoo would need in the future. I had also followed all the relevant steps up till the first hurdle: “env-update && source /etc/profile && export PS1="(chroot) ${PS1}”. The reason why this is a hurdle is because if you chose the wrong locale, you cannot renter the chroot, I choose the default listed in the Handbook, instead I should’ve selected: “en_US.UTF-8”. Now mind you, I did discover that all the work I did up to that point did matter, as all I needed to do was remount the drives at the appropriate time in the handbook steps (which I did). In horror, I looked at the screen, the weight of not having slept for nearly 20hrs weighted upon this weak human flesh. Powering off that accursed computer, I brushed my teeth and went to bed at 7am only to wake up at 12, with a fire in my soul. It was time once more to attack Gentoo (without me realizing, ultimately losing).

When I returned to the point that I had failed, minding the spelling of everything very carefully because the keymap was FUCKED, not as bad as FreeBSD bsdinstall mind you. Still not great though. I managed to successfully reenter the chroot after entering the env-update command. False confidence grew ever more, because that was the point where I thought everything was going to fall apart for me. I breezily followed the configuration steps asked of me, one after another, it was going so well. I created config files for stuff, typed it prim and proper. Reentering the command line to run the commands after considering the best one for my situation. That is when, my dear readers. I FUCKED UP, didn’t realize it at the time. I chose the wrong default profile for the installation. I probably should’ve chosen a neat, small default to work with at first. As I could build the Gentoo dream if only I got to the stage where a WM could be installed after installing Gentoo itself. There was more steps to follow, but it was then, when I approached the kernel building phase…The paradise that I had skipped through, became a chaotic and delirious place of horrors. USE Flags, so many USE Flags. It was abrupt…Sudden. My brain still tired from my stupid adventure the same day to install Gentoo with not a wink of rest, was overwhelmed.

Slammed, attacked, beaten by all that red and blue text. I couldn’t figure out what it meant. It was crazy, brain swimming due to the sudden fatigue and burst of anxious feeling that overcame all reason. At the end of my rope, I thought that I would harness the power of Bankai…A sudden burst of Linux Knowledge would guide me through this. No, instead it was a Mastodon buddy that taught me a neat command to add the correct flag to an update. Alas, it wasn’t enough to make me snap out of it. The combined brainstorm of fatigue and increased anxiety hit me like a ton of bricks. Nearly hit my head on my laptop and desk, as my brain was desperately telling me to, “GO THE FUCK TO SLEEP, BITCH!”. Instead, my stubborn ass decided to abandon Gentoo.

I installed EndeavorOS instead as previous I failed to install that. I chose to install the Sway edition because I am a sucker for a Window Manager (even though sometimes I stumble with config files). It was nice and great for a day or two. Before I learned about the things I wouldn’t have because Garuda Linux’s ChaoticAUR is a gift to Linux users wasn’t present. It made me sad, despite it being pretty. Once again, I installed Garuda Sway. This time, after all this time. Something clicked in my brain, I was able to fix the config file issue. As I understood the fix from a post a while ago. It made sense, I was happy, just a simple change an entry in Foot Terminal’s config from [colors] to [colors-dark]. Surprising that it took me such a long time to connect the dots. After messing with so many config files, the pieces fell in place. I had been on WILD ass journey on my days off. As it was raining, I couldn’t really do much of anything outdoors. So I opted to touch my computer, and customize it.

Though, already, I have an urge to attempt to install Void Linux. Having figured out all the basics during the Gentoo install…I don’t feel Void Linux is too daunting. I’ve wanted to find an escape hatch from systemd. As systemd is way more than an init system now, it’s a system that could be exploited by those with bad intentions in the future. At least I hope nobody takes advantage of that in the coming years, as systemd is so deeply integrated into a lot of distros these days.

Void Linux uses runit, which is an actual init system. I am nervously optimistic about the idea, as the Void repos has all the software which I care to have on my laptop. I strive to keep it minimal as possible to avoid filling its memory with too much junk. Who knows if I will be brave enough to leave the comfort of Garuda Linux again to try it out. Hopefully, I will on Wednesday. ROFL