Lunar Linux 1.6.1 RC1 review

Lunar is a source based Linux distribution developed by a talented team of programmers from all over the world, working together to e

License: GPL (GNU General Public License) File size: 259749K Developer: Lunar Linux Team

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Lunar is a source based Linux distribution developed by a talented team of programmers from all over the world, working together to extend the Linux technology into better-tailored and more optimized software for the end user.

Lunar uses and builds upon the Linux kernel, the software started by Linus Torvalds and supported by thousands of programmers worldwide, and offers a unique package management system which builds each software package, or module, from scratch for the machine in which it is being installed.

This is what sets Lunar apart. Lunar Linux makes customization a breeze-- you choose the compile options before a module is built, and install a lean and uncluttered system that has exactly what you need. Nothing more, or less.

Once installed, Lunar is remarkably fast, breaking new ground in flexibility and in the options it offers the individual user.

In a nutshell: Lunar installs a complete bootstrap development system on your machine. You then tell the Lunar package manager what tools you want, and it builds the entire system by downloading current source code and locally compiling an optimized system tailored toward your specific needs.

Lunar's installer is fast and provides full control over the process of installation, including a wide variety of install and rescue tools. The installer provides the user with an interface to compile a custom kernel during installation.

Installing applications is remarkably simple-- type in "lin [package name]" and the system will install the application from the moonbase, our module repository. Don't want it after all? Type "lrm [package name]" and it is gone. Lunar has a unique shell-based Application Management System which handles the dependencies when installing software. There is no "dependency hell"-- if there are other things the system needs to install a particular application, the AMS will simply find them for you.

Updating lunar is a matter of one single command, lunar update. It fetches an updated moonbase, checks if there were any updated modules and builds those. The AMS is network aware and uses the network to acquire source code. The moonbase and core tools are updated every hour at Lunar-Linux.org.

The advantage for the end user is clear: a system that is both robust and stable, and easy to install and maintain without sacrificing variety and flexibility. Lunar has built in integrity checking and a robust self-repairing capability. It also enables system users to develop their own source-packages using the toolset.

Lunar is for everyone. Though it may be difficult for the beginner to administer, it provides you with all the possible features you could want from a Linux distribution. It is incredibly accessible to anyone who has played around with a UNIX system.

All of this presents a rich potential for a user who seeks speed, strong performance, and a system that "works smart".