[Tfug] pps's with audio

[John Gruenenfelder]

On Fri, Sep 11, 2009 at 07:04:02AM -0700, erich wrote:
>Thanks,
>        Hmmm, I guess the answer is "no".  I used to think that MS was
>the maker of "bloat"-ware, that is, an application that has numerous
>features shoveled into it that begin to blur its scope. But guess what?
>Us too! The linux kernel, for example, gets ever larger with each
>iteration.

While there's no argument that the kernel keeps growing larger with each
iteration, be sure to keep it in perspective.

If you're using a distro kernel then it sures seems this is the case, but that
is only because the distros turn virtually every option on in order to work on
the widest range of hardware.

If you configure and compile a kernel stripped down to only what you need you
will find that a) you no longer need the ramdisk because even with most
critical sections (like SATA and SCSI) compiled in, the now-monolithic kernel
will still load (don't go nuts, though... keep USB as modules) and b) version
after version, I don't think the size of the beast will change substantially.

I'm not about to step away from packaged apps, because it's just too
convenient.  But you do give up some things.  One of those is lack of bloat.
A packaged app needs to appeal to as wide an audience as possible.  The Wine
packages have everything turned on, and CUPS installs with zillions of printer
specifications that you will never need.

It takes space, but if you want to do it yourself, many times you can get a
much smaller product in the end.  That's generally not a choice you get with
Windows or OSX.


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--John Gruenenfelder    Systems Manager, MKS Imaging Technology, LLC.
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