Source Mage GNU/Linux

multiple issues
primarysources = July 2008
original research = July 2008 infobox OS
name =
developer = Source Mage GNU/Linux Community
family = Linux
source_model = Open source
working_state = Current
latest_release_version = 0.9.6.3
latest_release_date = 27 March 2007
kernel_type = Monolithic kernel
license = Various
website = http://sourcemage.org/

Source Mage GNU/Linux is an operating system. When a package is installed its source code is automatically downloaded, compiled, and installed. Source Mage is descended from Sorcerer.

Notable Features

Source Mage is, as its name suggests a source based Linux distribution. Instead of delivering binaries to users, the source code is compiled. [ [http://sourcemage.org/FaqNewUsers FaqNewUsers - SourceMage Wiki ] ] This method allows greater control over the software than precompiled distros, such as Ubuntu. Individual dependencies can be selected or deselected, saving valuable hard drive space and freeing RAM and CPU cycles. For instance, OpenSSH can be compiled without support for X11 sharing. One can choose to set cflags, cxxflags, and ldflags specific to their situation. [ [http://sourcemage.org/FaqGeneral FaqGeneral - SourceMage Wiki ] ] Using a source based distro is the only way to unlock the full performance of a computer, as binary distros must compile their software for a wide audience, not a particular group, such as uses of the AMD Athlon XP. When a Source Mage spell is "cast", the latest stable release is download from the developer's site rather than Source Mage's. This allows for the most up-to-date system, unlike Gentoo, another popular source based distro, which maintains its own customized cache of packages. [ [http://sourcemage.org/FAQ/Gentoo/Philosophical?action=show&redirect=FaqDiff+Gentoo FAQ/Gentoo/Philosophical - SourceMage Wiki ] ] SMGL does not change anything in packages, so it is immune from the kind of errors resulting from distro developers tampering.

History

In 2001, Kyle Sallee released a Linux distribution named Sorcerer GNU/Linux. However, several developers were unhappy with Kyle's development approach, and created a fork of the project that eventually became Lunar Linux. Kyle Sallee was extremely unhappy about this, and removed Sorcerer GNU/Linux from the web (making it impossible for users to update their systems). Most of the remaining developers of Sorcerer GNU/Linux picked up the pieces of Sorcerer GNU/Linux, and restarted the project. At first they released their project under the old name (Sorcerer GNU/Linux), but Kyle Sallee requested that they rename their project. They agreed, and eventually renamed their effort "Source Mage GNU/Linux". The project was released under the name "Source Mage", with new leadership not including Kyle Sallee, in April 2002.

Sorcery

Source Mage's tagline is “Linux so advanced, it may as well be magic” [http://sourcemage.org/Sorcery Sorcery - SourceMage Wiki ] ] , and its commands have a “sorcerous theme”. Each package is called a “spell”, and its package management program is called “sorcery”. To install a package the user must “cast” that spell. Casting a spell consists of downloading the source code (if it is not already downloaded), checking for dependencies, casting them if necessary, compiling the program, and installing it. A set of available spells is called a “grimoire”. To uninstall a package the user must “dispel” the spell.

Social Contract

Source Mage GNU/Linux has established a “Social Contract” that establishes its basic rules, which are similar though not identical to Debian's. The first part of the contract ensures the freedom of Source
blockquote|We promise to keep the Source Mage GNU/Linux Distribution entirely free (as in freedom). This means that all software we release will be licensed under the GNU General Public License as defined by the Free Software Foundation (fsf.org). All of our documentation will be released under the GNU Free Documentation License. [http://www.sourcemage.org/SocialContract SocialContract - SourceMage Wiki ] ] Source Mage GNU/Linux does not restrict the user's choice of software to only free software: blockquote|We acknowledge that some of our users require the use of programs that don't conform to the strict SMGL Licensing Guidelines. While SMGL will never rely on non-free software, we do not limit a user's choice of software. We will provide the tools for a user to make their own informed decisions, via each spell's "LICENSE" field, and the sorcery spell filter. Thus, although non-free software isn't a part of Source Mage, we support its use, and we provide infrastructure (such as our bug-tracking system and mailing lists, as well as spells) for non-free software packages.

Installation

Installing Source Mage GNU/Linux involves first creating a minimal installation with a kernel (so it can run), the GCC C compiler, a network connection, and a few other basic tools to support downloading and compiling source code. [ [http://sourcemage.org/InstallingSourceMage InstallingSourceMage - SourceMage Wiki ] ] This enables the system to download, compile, and install all the other components, and the compilation results can be tailored for that specific system.

Portability

All Source Mage-maintained code is designed to presume a very minimal system. For example, it is written in Bash and GNU-based POSIX utilities, and GCC doesn't need to build with g++ (the C++ compiler). GNU Sed and Awk are used instead of Perl. This makes Source Mage suitable for a small installation.

References

External links

* [http://www.sourcemage.org/ Official website]
* cite web
url = http://lwn.net/Articles/145233/
title = About Source Mage
publisher = Linux Weekly News
date = 2005-08-02