I would prefer to have all software on my laptop compiled from source codes. I know Gentoo does that, but I really like Mint and would like to keep it.
For now I install new software by synaptic and then put onto command line:
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apt-build install --reinstall --yes --force-yes name_of_wanted_software
I have heard that
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apt-build install --reinstall --yes --force-yes world
So my question/idea is to give to installer option "Expert" or something like that, there choose something like "Install system by compiling packages from source code" -> next step is setting up the network (well, it means probably CD/DVD should in that case contain as much wireless card drivers as possible) -> setting up repositories -> checking differences between sources on CD/DVD and in internet repositories -> compiling basic system core (mon. kernel?)
---> reboot into new installed system, but still installer -> choose desktop manager, applications etc. -> install*
* I think one of the most important points is to download and install part-by-part (eg. how it is in OpenSuse), so when one source code cannot be downloaded, you do not loose the rest or so...**
** if there are some errors in installation, they should be skipped and fails written to log, which should automatically after all appear with option (maybe button) "Try to install these again..."***
*** well, also should appear information about broken dependencies, like what application may work incorrectly and so on
If this could work, potentionally patient users could have more efficient tunned and stable easy-to-use system (what I think Mint is in opposite of Gentoo...), no problems with different distros packages (well, count on most of apps in linux is open-source), but still possibility to install from DEBs. And finally it would be great afterwards to be able to set up synaptic to work with apt-build like emerge (maybe it can do even now and I do not know...) as default.
If you have read till here, please write here a comment about what you think and if I am wrong with something...
Cheers