3D - 2

Is there a good stepping order for unix-like distros?

I've been a computer science unit since before I developed an addiction to caffeine and in doing so, I found it somewhat "necessary" to start using unix-like operating systems. I've been an avid user of the newbie versions of linux over the years, PCLinux2008, OpenSuSe, Ubuntu, and some others; however, I really don't feel like I've learned enough. Recently, I tried installing the newest version of debian and had to fix/compile almost everything. My sound card didn't work (download driver->recompile alsa and oss), my video card wasn't able to use 3d redering engines (download video card driver, compile, modify xorg.config), wireless card didn't work (download open source driver, compile, modprobe), even my freaking ethernet card didn't work (this one was a real pain in the ass because I had to download two different firmware versions before it would work). Anyway, I ended up just saying screw it; because even though I had the system fully running, it took me about 20 hours to get it where I would be able to use it for work and class, and I wasn't willing to do it all again if I downloaded some type of virus or ran a bad script, or something. Long story short, I was wondering if there was some good stepping stone lineup for unix-like distros. Notice I said UNIX-LIKE, they don't all have to be linux. Please actually give a REASON why you would recommend a particular path...

Public Comments

1. I would say stick with Debian. You probably won't go through the same hassles EVERY time you upgrade or get a virus (which is rare, by the way), and EVERYWHERE you go from here will give you the same hassles. I'm writing this on Debian with a custom-compiled kernel while sitting next to a laptop with a dual boot slackware/gentoo interface, which has run Debian Hurd on it. If you want to get a taste of Unix, try running FREESBIE: http://www.freesbie.org which is a Unix Live CD. It is disarmingly straightforward. Linux is actually a more forgiving kernel and in fact the things that make it so are the things that made Andy Tannenbaum (who advised Torvalds on the kernel) tell him as he was finishing it that if it were being graded the grade would be relatively low. Debian is certainly a high maintenance linux (gentoo is probably relatively higher). But Slackware's straightforwardness doesn't make it easier (I am still recompiling things for it). The important thing to remember with Unix is in order to run su or sudo you MUST be a member of the group "wheel", whereas in Linux you can generally run the first program if you know root's password and the second if you are listed in /etc/sudoers. Twenty hours is a good amount of time for a first install. Hacking is called hacking because of course you just work away at this and that problem until you finally solve them all. If you really want to know about Unix-like OSes, I would say stick with Debian for now. What you are complaining about you will get (and worse) with ANY other distro as advanced.