Libra Libranet GNU/Linux 2.0 Review

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★★★★★
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Brian Babiuk.'s review of Libra Libranet GNU/Linux 2.0

“Libranet Linux is the perfect distribution from the...”

★★★★★

written by Brian Babiuk. on 08/09/2002

Good Points
-Great installer, especially compared to Debian
-Debian stability
-apt-get package management system

Bad Points
-Based off Debian means older packages (KDE 2.2.2 - c'mon!)

General Comments
Libranet Linux is the perfect distribution from the newcomer to linux, or to someone who wants Debian's stability, security and package management system. I have tried a pile of RPM based distributions. I hated installing software because you'd try to install an ".rpm" and it had failed dependencies, so I'd download the dependencies, and they had failed dependencies. Debian's apt-get install fixes this. Say I want to install program x, but it had dependencies that weren't on my system, apt-get will flag the missing dependencies for installation and install them. This is an over-simplified explanation of what does actually happen, but it drives the point across. I can now install software and not get frustrated because I have to spend an evening tracking down failed dependencies. This makes Libranet or Debian ideal for newcomers, or "easily frustrated" people like me. So why would you want to download Libranet over Debian. Aren't they the same? Try installing Debian, and things will become obvious. Libranet simplifies the installation process. It is not a graphical installation program, but the text based installer is logical and easy to use.



My only complaint is the older packages. Libranet comes with KDE 2.2x. Most distributors have been shipping KDE 3.x for a bit now. The newest version of Libranet (2.7) comes with KDE 3.x and Gnome2. The free download version (2.0) makes due with the older versions.



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110892_Brian Masinick.'s Response to Brian Babiuk.'s Review

Written on: 26/06/2003

Libranet 2.8 is now available, and it uses software from Sarge, the next project in the Debian series, which uses project names from the movie Toy Story.
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<br>The newest software is a compromise between the very latest software and stability. If you know anything about Debian software, the stable distribution (called Woody at the present time), contains software that works very well, but is getting quite dated. The software in testing has not successfully completed all rigorous Debian tests, but has been found to work for a period of time and has been moved out of the unstable status. The unstable tree contains software that has not been thoroughly tested. The software itself may work, but it also may introduce packaging problems and break something else, or in the worst case, the entire system.
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<br>Well, Libranet brings some stability and reason to all of that. The software, as I mentioned, comes from the Debian testing branch. Version 2.0 is now two releases past, so it's no longer up to date. Version 2.8, as of my writing, is the current software, and it improves on everything done to date.
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<br>Is Version 2.0 still useful? Sure. If you don't have enough money to support Libranet, you can download the Libranet 2.0 ISO images. You'll need a good network in order to update the software, but it's good stuff.
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<br>I actually run a system based on 2.0 myself. I've purchased and installed 2.7, and I've also obtained the ISO images for 2.8, but in practice, the version I've kept on my system is a system that started out with 2.0, and has become my own blend of 2.0, 2.7, 2.8, stable, testing, and unstable branch sources. So I rate 2.0 very highly as a great way to get top notch software, at least if you're willing to use the network to update it yourself. Otherwise, I recommend purchasing a copy of 2.8, the latest version, or if you're a bit short on cash, the 2.7 version, which is also very good.

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