On Fri, Jan 12, 2001 at 12:30:05PM +0100, Jo Bieg wrote:

> I'm just following these discussions since I'm really a newbie to linux.
> However, I've got some questions you may be able to answer:

Welcome to the list :)

> 1. Checking what packages you need
> 
> Is there a way to determine the dependency status of the whole system (check
> what packages are missing). I know there's an ebuild command to check the
> dependency of a single package. So do I have to write a shell script which
> goes through the db and checks every single package in there?

Try:

# portage-maintain

It'll inform you of any critical packages that aren't installed, as well as
when you have a package installed and there's a newer (recommended) version
available.

> 2. (Actually not Gentoo related) Organizing data.
> 
> Comparing Linux to Windows I realized the differences in managing data. Eg.
> linux (and unix?) uses a "spread out" system collecting data of the same
> type (like libraries, binaries, documentation) whereas Windows puts data
> together (each program has its own directory). Is there a proper technical
> term which describes these two models?

I guess the generic term is "filesystem organization".  Linux is moving towards
using a standard called FHS; however, most of the standards come from successful
traditions of past UNIX operating systems.

> I'd gladly help you out with the website. Though I'm not really working with
> linux.  Yet, I'm just a Windows, Outlook and Photoshop lamer ;)

Well, if you're a newbie, then you should be spending your time learning your
way around Linux :))  When you're comfortable with Linux, then we'll have some
ways you can help.

Best Regards,

-- 
Daniel Robbins					<drobbins@g.o>
President/CEO					http://www.gentoo.org 
Gentoo Technologies, Inc.