[gentoo-user] detailed information about USE flags?

[Alan E. Davis]

I finally rebuilt my system, after nearly three months. Have
installed gentoo using the minimal install CD. It went easy, with a
fast connection. Much easier for me than trying to do the LiveCD
install.

Now, I need to set USE flags, and I want to do so with care. I
understand the concept, but I have to admit that I have never had
enough information at my disposal to choose USE flags even half
cluefully. I have seen some USE editors, but even they do not give
very much useful information about USE flags. I don't want to have to
do emerge --newuse yadayada very often...

Can someone point me to more information on USE flags, or do I have to
week through a plethora of mailing list and forum posts, and even then
have no clue?

Thanks for any help.

Alan

[Alexander Skwar]

Post by Alan E. Davis
I don't want to have to
do emerge --newuse yadayada very often...

?
--newuse is only needed, if you change global USE flags. There
shouldn't be many flags you set globally, ie. in /etc/make.conf.
Instead, set the USE flags in /etc/portage/package.use.

Post by Alan E. Davis
Can someone point me to more information on USE flags,

I don't think your question can be answered "globally". What a
USE flag does, is highly dependent upon the package which employs
this flag. And generally, the name of the flag should be quite
self explanatory - or at least the description should show, what
it does (I use "euse -i $flag" to get the description).

But if you need in detail information, you'll have to check out
the ebuild and see what it does.


Alexander Skwar