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sprocket · 11-23-2003, 05:37 PM

Portage is a package delivery/management system developed by gentoo, modelled after Ports (BSDs Packaging system). They work almost identically.

Its a pretty powerful/easy way to install, manage and remove software that is part of gentoo's portage tree. The one thing that sets portage/ports apart from other distributions package management is that it can download a package, any dependancies it has, compile the package from source and install it with one step. If you want to build your packages from source on other distros you usually must take another step. Gentoo die hard fans claim that building it from source can enhance performance, but dont expect to see any performance benifits unless you take lots of time to tweak compile time options. It can also be a drag waiting for large programs to compile but I beleive you have the option with portage to install binaries.

Its not in other distros because, well, gentoo was basically the first distro to be designed around a packaging system like portage. Other distros are pretty entrenched in their version of package management/installation. Red Hat uses RPM and up2date (or apt-get or YUM), Debian is built around apt-get/debs. Pretty much every distro has its own unique way to install and manage packages each with its own pros and cons.

11-23-2003, 05:37 PM	#3 (permalink)
sprocket Psycho Location: In transit	Portage is a package delivery/management system developed by gentoo, modelled after Ports (BSDs Packaging system). They work almost identically. Its a pretty powerful/easy way to install, manage and remove software that is part of gentoo's portage tree. The one thing that sets portage/ports apart from other distributions package management is that it can download a package, any dependancies it has, compile the package from source and install it with one step. If you want to build your packages from source on other distros you usually must take another step. Gentoo die hard fans claim that building it from source can enhance performance, but dont expect to see any performance benifits unless you take lots of time to tweak compile time options. It can also be a drag waiting for large programs to compile but I beleive you have the option with portage to install binaries. Its not in other distros because, well, gentoo was basically the first distro to be designed around a packaging system like portage. Other distros are pretty entrenched in their version of package management/installation. Red Hat uses RPM and up2date (or apt-get or YUM), Debian is built around apt-get/debs. Pretty much every distro has its own unique way to install and manage packages each with its own pros and cons. __________________ Remember, wherever you go... there you are.