I run a number of operating systems inside VirtualBox containers, a sort of VirtualBox zoo. It's a fun way of learning about specific tools or technologies without breaking my server or desktop systems.

Over the weekend I had a problem with a CentOS 5.2 system, X would start, but gnome wouldn't, it ran only TWM. I eventually found the broken piece and installed it with yum, but it was interesting to see all the undesired bloat go in with it.

I don't personally like GNOME and I don't normally use CentOS so this isn't a rant against them, rather an observation on package managers that install a CD/DVD burning stack on a system without a CD/DVD burner, just to install a basic desktop system. I know on Debian if you let it, aptitude will install KDE and the kitchen sink, rather than just the minimum subset that I actually want.

I know it's a hard line to walk, balancing the line of minimum sensible packages and bloat but I think Red Hat went for a crude all or nothing on this occasion.