Neowin Forums > How to build distro from scratch

_R2D2

Mar 30 2005, 20:30

I am not experienced enough to do it, but I am just curious.
I mean, the kernel itself does nothing. Do you have to format a partiton as ext3 or something, place all bin files there and then it will work?`

Just tell it simple, I am not going to do it.

macssuck

Mar 30 2005, 20:53

QUOTE(_R2D2 @ Mar 30 2005, 14:30)

I am not experienced enough to do it, but I am just curious.
I mean, the kernel itself does nothing. Do you have to format a partiton as ext3 or something, place all bin files there and then it will work?`

Just tell it simple, I am not going to do it.
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There's a book about how to do that, it's free and open source.
http://www.linuxfromscratch.org/

EDIT: The latest release for online viewing is here. Starts with partitioning, then setting up a tool chain, boot strapping adding the system tools, and finally being rebooting.

To make a useable distribution takes about a month of half-hearted work (for a cross compiled to run on an old MIPs system). To use on a PC with a graphical interface is a week or two of work - most of it waiting for things to compile and fooling around fixing dependencies by yourself: I don't recommend it unless you really want to make a hobby of Linux.

The best part: You could have found this amazing resource by simply putting your post title ("how to build [linux] distro from scratch" into a google search bar and clicking "I'm feeling lucky".

_R2D2

Mar 30 2005, 21:03

QUOTE(macssuck @ Mar 30 2005, 20:53)

There's a book about how to do that, it's free and open source.
http://www.linuxfromscratch.org/

EDIT: The latest release for online viewing is here. Starts with partitioning, then setting up a tool chain, boot strapping adding the system tools, and finally being rebooting.

To make a useable distribution takes about a month of half-hearted work (for a cross compiled to run on an old MIPs system). To use on a PC with a graphical interface is a week or two of work - most of it waiting for things to compile and fooling around fixing dependencies by yourself: I don't recommend it unless you really want to make a hobby of Linux.

The best part: You could have found this amazing resource by simply putting your post title ("how to build [linux] distro from scratch" into a google search bar and clicking "I'm feeling lucky".
[right][snapback]585698980[/snapback][/right]

Okay. Thanks.
About googling, I don't want to read 2464 paged books or sites, I just want a short responce, like yours.

thetombraider

Mar 31 2005, 22:49

I was actually going to post the same question. I was really curious, and that's a great site. Thanks!

DjmUK

Apr 1 2005, 00:19

QUOTE(thetombraider @ Mar 31 2005, 22:49)

I was actually going to post the same question. I was really curious, and that's a great site. Thanks!
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Totally agreed, I mean there's far too many distros out there - so I always wondered what it would take to actually build a custom one.

I won't be doing this anytime soon - I mean, why be annoying and released another one out (when they're all essentially the same, except for program installations).

LiquidGUI

Apr 1 2005, 00:29

I read this book a while ago, I thought about doing to a old PC I had laying around but I decided to go BSD again, and I havent turned back as far as servers go

Knight'

Apr 1 2005, 19:43

Why build a custom distro when you can use portage?

http://www.gentoo.org

You can build your system into anything you like!

DjmUK

Apr 1 2005, 20:02

QUOTE(Knight' @ Apr 1 2005, 19:43)

Why build a custom distro why you can use portage?

http://www.gentoo.org

You can build your system into anything you like!

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duh! the point of this thread is to make one's own distro - not to use an existing one.

Knight'

Apr 1 2005, 20:14

QUOTE(DjmUK @ Apr 1 2005, 21:02)

duh! the point of this thread is to make one's own distro - not to use an existing one.
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I don't see much difference.

You choose all the packages on your system with portage, in an easy and powerful environment, and get easy access to all the latest code and kernels. How is that different to building your own distro really, when you think about it you could save allot of time doing it this way

"(when they're all essentially the same, except for program installations)."

David Scaife

Apr 2 2005, 02:44

Knight', that's true, but it doesn't address the point of the thread:

QUOTE

Just tell it simple, I am not going to do it.

He's looking for information on how distros are built, not how he could go about getting a customised box set up. There's a fine line... but the difference is that he wants the 'theory' of it, not what is practical. That's what I think he means, anyway.

kjordan2001

Apr 2 2005, 17:27

QUOTE(Knight' @ Apr 1 2005, 13:43)

Why build a custom distro when you can use portage?

http://www.gentoo.org

You can build your system into anything you like!

[right][snapback]585710484[/snapback][/right]

Well, there are some people who don't care for package managers.

dotRoot

Apr 2 2005, 17:43

Custom Distrobutions are still very helpful. Windows users are just starting to see how cool "slipstreaming a Windows install" is, so why not make your own Linux distro to ease the process of a reinstall or another install on another machine?

Knight'

Apr 2 2005, 18:06

QUOTE(kjordan2001 @ Apr 2 2005, 18:27)

Well, there are some people who don't care for package managers.
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Welcome to 1990.

Knight'

Apr 2 2005, 18:07

QUOTE(scaife @ Apr 2 2005, 03:44)

Knight', that's true, but it doesn't address the point of the thread:He's looking for information on how distros are built, not how he could go about getting a customised box set up. There's a fine line... but the difference is that he wants the 'theory' of it, not what is practical. That's what I think he means, anyway.
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Fair enough, I misread what he was asking for.

Check this out:

http://wiki.linuxfromscratch.org/index.php?pagename=LFS

It's not "simple" but it does describe howto build your own distro.

DjmUK

Apr 2 2005, 23:18

QUOTE(Knight' @ Apr 2 2005, 18:07)

Fair enough, I misread what he was asking for.

Check this out:

http://wiki.linuxfromscratch.org/index.php?pagename=LFS

It's not "simple" but it does describe howto build your own distro.
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Now you're with us

and damn, that's a lot of sub-chapters. I guess I'll be skipping that any time quick.

Knight'

Apr 4 2005, 18:36

You could also try this:

http://www.rocklinux.org/about.html