The traditional route to ROCK Linux goes like this:
  1. You are born.
  2. You start using MS Windows.
  3. You become disenchanted with Windows.
  4. You start using a popular Linux distribution (Red Hat, Mandrake, etc.)
  5. You become disenchanted with the popular Linux distribution.
  6. You start experimenting with various less-mainstream alternatives.
  7. You become disenchanted with the less-mainstream alternatives.
  8. You start using a "source-based distribution" (ROCK, Gentoo, etc.).
  9. You live happily ever after. Or not.

Anyway...
Windows users, go here.
Linux/BSD/*nix users, go here. A. I'm happy with Windows, I don't really want or need to switch. I'm just surfing the Web checking out this Linux thing that people keep talking about.

Try these sites:

There are hundreds of other sites that provide general information about Linux; use your favorite search engine.

B. I've always used Windows, and I don't have any particular objection to it, but the licence fees are getting so expensive. I'm looking for a cheap, easy alternative. I don't want to learn anything new or put any effort into it, and I want it to look just like Windows.

Hire a consultant.

C. I'm not happy with Windows because [insert reason here] and I am seriously considering switching to Linux. But I've never used anything besides Windows and I don't know how to get started.

Here are a few suggestions:

  • Contact your local Linux User Group (LUG). A quick web search should locate the group nearest to you. Be aware that, as with everything involving human interaction, the quality (e.g. helpfulness, knowledgeability, etc.) of your LUGs experience may vary.

  • You may want to start out with a user-friendly distribution of Linux. Red Hat, Mandrake and Suse are a few of the more popular commercial ones.

  • Read some books about Linux. Go to a bookstore with a large selection and browse through the general Linux section. Pick something that fits your knowledge level and which is written in a style that appeals to you. The most popular publisher among computer geeks is probably O'Reilly. Their introductory Linux book is called Running Linux (4th edition). There are many lists and reviews of other beginners' Linux books on the web.

  • Immerse yourself in the Open Source/Free Software culture. Get to understand the philosophy and ideals that drive "the community", as well as its flaws and idiosyncrasies. To start with, try:

    • The Cathedral and the Bazaar, and various other writings by Eric S. Raymond. Not all that many people agree completely with ESR, but nearly everyone will agree that this book remains Very Important. Other interesting things that Eric has on his website are The Jargon File, a slightly dated but Important dictionary of hacker terms, and How To Ask Questions The Smart Way, a guide to getting people to help you.

    • Another Important (and controversial) source of philosophy is The Free Software Foundation's site. The FSF is the organization behind the GNU project, which is inextricably linked with Linux (or GNU/Linux).

    • For a less direct approach, try reading the things Linux people read, like slashdot, The Register, and other geeky sites.

    All of the above sites (and many more) are listed and linked on the ROCK Linux Portal.

What ROCK is

The first thing to understand about ROCK is that it is source-based. The vast majority of other Linux distributions are binary-based. In a source distribution, you compile the source code on your own machine. In a binary distribution, the programs are already compiled on someone else's machine (which is presumably similar to yours). Of course you can always download the source code for a program and compile it yourself even if you use a binary distribution (at least in theory). That's not the point. Building everything from source means that:

  • the compiled code is optimized for your specific hardware
  • you can select the compiler and linker options
If you don't understand what this means, or why it is important, then you probably don't need to switch from your binary distribution.

Building from source does mean that it takes a long time for an install to complete. This is true of all source-based distributions. However, it is possible to cluster-build ROCK (speed up the build time by using several workstations) on the same build. The cluster-build script takes dependencies into account.

Secondly, ROCK is not simply a distribution, but a tool for building your own distribution--a Distribution Build Kit, as we call it. You select what goes into it, how it is compiled, what libraries to use, and so on. You can build a distribution for a server, for desktop use, for a router, for clusters, for terminals, or whatever special purpose you have in mind. ROCK also cross-builds (builds on one architecture for use on another) and is highly portable. Of course, ROCK also comes with a general-purpose distribution.

Thirdly, ROCK has traditionally been targeted towards advanced users and sys admins--in other words, control freaks. That doesn't mean that less skilled (or more relaxed) users won't get anything out of ROCK--in fact, a great deal of effort has been put in recently to add new user-friendly features. Nevertheless, what it does mean is that nothing is ever forced on you, not even for your own good. You always have control. Whether you use that power for truth, justice, or stupidity is up to you.

The ROCK Linux Guide is an excellent source of information for those new to ROCK.

What's the difference between ROCK and ...?/Which is better, ROCK or ...?

There are other source-based distributions, the most prominent of which is Gentoo. Distribution wars are painful and pointless, so the official answer to this question is "No comment". Decide for yourself.

How to install ROCK

You need a working Linux installation, either of some other distribution, or ROCK itself. For the definition of what "working" means, read section 2.5 of the FAQ. If you don't have a working Linux install, get a precompiled (binary) ISO image or CD, and install it.

Download a version of the ROCK Linux source code here. This contains, basically, the scripts and configuration files necessary to build your distribution from source.

Unpack the file you downloaded, read the files in the Documentation directory and follow the directions therein. Copies of this documentation files are available online as well.

Other questions?

If you can't find the answer on the website, in the documentation, or in the mailing list archives, send your question to the mailing list.

Have fun!