Install Gentoo

About

Install Gentoo is a phrase used on 4chan's /g/ board much like delete system 32. When one asks a question about windows or has computer related problems people will respond with "Install Gentoo.", telling the troubled user this will solve all their problems. (Ex. How do I keep my iphone from running out of battery so quickly? A: Install Gentoo)

Background

Gentoo is an operating system built on the Linux kernel. It was initially released by Daniel Robbins on March 31, 2002. The goal of Gentoo is to have an operating system that builds all programs from source, instead of having pre-built binary packages. While this does allow for advanced speed and customizability, it means that even the most basic components such as the kernel must be compiled from source. It is known through out the Linux community as being a very complex operating system because of its daunting install process. The default Gentoo install boots straight to a command prompt, from which the user must manually partition the disk, download a package known as a "Stage 3 tarball", extract it, and build the system up by manually installing packages. New or inexperienced users will often not know what to do when they boot in to the installer to find there is no graphical display. Members of /g/ will often exaggerate the values of Gentoo, trying to trick new users in to attempting to install it.

Usage

Installing gentoo is usually used in one of two ways. The first being the ultimate tech advice to install gentoo to all devices in order to fix all problems the user may be facing. The other is as a linux master race. With the arduous process of installing gentoo successfully without completely failing nearly impossible to the common technology user, many proclaimed gentoo users argue gentoo is the linux master race. (Ex. >Plebes who lack the capacity to for a superior computing experience.)