diff options
Diffstat (limited to 'doc/guix.texi')
| -rw-r--r-- | doc/guix.texi | 44 |
1 files changed, 28 insertions, 16 deletions
diff --git a/doc/guix.texi b/doc/guix.texi index 55e63f35b5..1739f3268d 100644 --- a/doc/guix.texi +++ b/doc/guix.texi @@ -124,7 +124,7 @@ Utilities GNU Distribution * System Installation:: Installing the whole operating system. -* System Configuration:: Configuring a GNU system. +* System Configuration:: Configuring the operating system. * Installing Debugging Files:: Feeding the debugger. * Security Updates:: Deploying security fixes quickly. * Package Modules:: Packages from the programmer's viewpoint. @@ -3233,13 +3233,23 @@ build} supports (@pxref{Invoking guix build, common build options}). @node GNU Distribution @chapter GNU Distribution +@cindex Guixotic Guix comes with a distribution of free software@footnote{The term ``free'' here refers to the @url{http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/free-sw.html,freedom provided to -users of that software}.} that forms the basis of the GNU system. This -includes core GNU packages such as GNU libc, GCC, and Binutils, as well -as many GNU and non-GNU applications. The complete list of available -packages can be browsed +users of that software}.} that forms the basis of the GNU system. The +distribution can be installed on its own (@pxref{System Installation}), +but it is also possible to install Guix as a package manager on top of +an installed GNU/Linux system (@pxref{Installation}). To distinguish +between the two, we refer to the standalone distribution as +``Guixotic''@footnote{``How am I going to pronounce that name?'', you +may ask. Well, we would pronounce it like ``geeks-otic'', for +consistency with Guix---which is quite different from the usual +pronunciation of ``quixotic''.}. + +The distribution provides core GNU packages such as GNU libc, GCC, and +Binutils, as well as many GNU and non-GNU applications. The complete +list of available packages can be browsed @url{http://www.gnu.org/software/guix/package-list.html,on-line} or by running @command{guix package} (@pxref{Invoking guix package}): @@ -3247,7 +3257,7 @@ running @command{guix package} (@pxref{Invoking guix package}): guix package --list-available @end example -Our goal is to build a practical 100% free software distribution of +Our goal has been to provide a practical 100% free software distribution of Linux-based and other variants of GNU, with a focus on the promotion and tight integration of GNU components, and an emphasis on programs and tools that help users exert that freedom. @@ -3278,7 +3288,7 @@ For information on porting to other architectures or kernels, @menu * System Installation:: Installing the whole operating system. -* System Configuration:: Configuring a GNU system. +* System Configuration:: Configuring the operating system. * Installing Debugging Files:: Feeding the debugger. * Security Updates:: Deploying security fixes quickly. * Package Modules:: Packages from the programmer's viewpoint. @@ -3293,9 +3303,11 @@ to join! @xref{Contributing}, for information about how you can help. @node System Installation @section System Installation -This section explains how to install the complete GNU operating system -on a machine. The Guix package manager can also be installed on top of -a running GNU/Linux system, @pxref{Installation}. +@cindex Guixotic +This section explains how to install the standalone distribution, +code-named ``Guixotic'', on a machine. The Guix package manager can +also be installed on top of a running GNU/Linux system, +@pxref{Installation}. @ifinfo @c This paragraph is for people reading this from tty2 of the @@ -3308,13 +3320,13 @@ link that follows: @pxref{Help,,, info, Info: An Introduction}. Hit @subsection Limitations -As of version @value{VERSION}, GNU@tie{}Guix and the GNU system -distribution are alpha software. It may contain bugs and lack important +As of version @value{VERSION}, GNU@tie{}Guix and Guixotic are +not production-ready. They may contain bugs and lack important features. Thus, if you are looking for a stable production system that respects your freedom as a computer user, a good solution at this point is to consider @url{http://www.gnu.org/distros/free-distros.html, one of more established GNU/Linux distributions}. We hope you can soon switch -to the GNU system without fear, of course. In the meantime, you can +to Guixotic without fear, of course. In the meantime, you can also keep using your distribution and try out the package manager on top of it (@pxref{Installation}). @@ -3498,7 +3510,7 @@ about the installation image. @section System Configuration @cindex system configuration -The GNU system supports a consistent whole-system configuration +Guixotic supports a consistent whole-system configuration mechanism. By that we mean that all aspects of the global system configuration---such as the available system services, timezone and locale settings, user accounts---are declared in a single place. Such @@ -4639,7 +4651,7 @@ The type of an entry in the GRUB boot menu. @table @asis @item @code{label} -The label to show in the menu---e.g., @code{"GNU System"}. +The label to show in the menu---e.g., @code{"GNU"}. @item @code{linux} The Linux kernel to boot. @@ -4709,7 +4721,7 @@ This action does not actually install anything. @item init Populate the given directory with all the files necessary to run the operating system specified in @var{file}. This is useful for first-time -installations of the GNU system. For instance: +installations of Guixotic. For instance: @example guix system init my-os-config.scm /mnt |