conda basically proves that you can install almost everything one needs in the user's home directory. they have been working more and more on being completely independent from things like system compilers as well.
Conda is a great way to get gcc 7.2 on CentOS 6. Anaconda builds all of its packages targeting CentOS 6 for broad compatibility, but with the latest compilers to ensure we have the latest security features compiled in.
I don't understand the nature of your discourse. You agreed that maintaining software distros is not easy, some recommended conda and you seem dismissive again?
