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-rw-r--r--doc/guix.texi44
1 files changed, 28 insertions, 16 deletions
diff --git a/doc/guix.texi b/doc/guix.texi
index 8341a707d0..d92495b5b2 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.
@@ -3274,7 +3284,7 @@ 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.
@@ -3289,9 +3299,11 @@ 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
@@ -3304,13 +3316,13 @@ 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}).
@@ -3494,7 +3506,7 @@ 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
@@ -4635,7 +4647,7 @@ 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.
@@ -4705,7 +4717,7 @@ 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