5 ms·

Minimal Linux Live

91 points by eterps 12y ago

vonuebelgarten 12y ago
So, a system that automates generating a Linux distro from scratch. Except for the fun, I can't figure out the application. It doesn't seem to match Buildroot or Yocto for embedded systems, but people can assume that; I suggest describing the objectives in the first paragraphs.
- fit2rule 12y ago
  As an old-time user of Linux, I'm surprised by the dis-interest in the idea of collecting a short, sweet, succinct set of minimal scripts with the intention of demonstrate the building a new Linux instance. Linux is all about building ones own distribution, always has been .. unless you have someone else do it for you. But this is not a distro. Its more of a porting kit. It used to be that the only way to use Linux, was to use scripts like this. Well, it point of fact: all distros are constructed of such mechanics. This is a very minimal one. The next step would be to put a 10_compiler.sh step in the pipeline, and then build the kernel again. This project seems to be a new, fresh look at the game, I suppose. The linux-from-scratch approach is also a good way to break in newly built hardware in my experience, too. If you've got nothing but these scripts, you can .. continuing the tradition .. continue to put Linux .. just about anywhere. So, like I said .. a porting kit. Linux All Things.
  - listic 12y ago
    I guess it could be convenient to start with something like this, if I wanted to make an entirely new Linux distro, with its own package management and basic stuff like that. Right? I am actually interested to start with a tweaked Ubuntu, so I guess this kind of script is not what I need.
  - mhd 12y ago
    Actually, considering the current state of Linux I wouldn't mind a set of instructions that details the setup of a more modern base Linux, including stuff like systemd and udev.
    - digi_owl 12y ago
      Linux From Scratch maintains both a classic and systemd based guide these days. http://www.linuxfromscratch.org/lfs/view/stable/ http://www.linuxfromscratch.org/lfs/view/stable/ http://www.linuxfromscratch.org/lfs/view/stable-systemd/ http://www.linuxfromscratch.org/lfs/view/stable-systemd/ Note also that they have a project similar to the one linked to: http://www.linuxfromscratch.org/alfs/ http://www.linuxfromscratch.org/alfs/
    - lloydde 12y ago
      Gentoo embedded project is worth looking at. A previous employer had this at the heart of their product. It was a pleasure to work with. http://www.gentoo.org/proj/en/base/embedded/ http://www.gentoo.org/proj/en/base/embedded/
vezzy-fnord 12y ago
You might also be interested in the Aboriginal Linux project, which is similar in intent, but also devoted to easy cross-compilation: http://landley.net/aboriginal/about.html http://landley.net/aboriginal/about.html
justincormack 12y ago
The best designed and implemented of these scripts has always been NetBSD's build.sh. Builds the whole OS, including base userspace, compiler etc and ISO images. Configurable. And it cross compiles so you can do the whole thing from OSX or whatever. It builds all the tools you need to do the build, such as (cross) compilers etc. Basically download source then [1] ./build.sh -U -u -m amd64 release You can change the options too. Very well designed, if you like this sort of thing. And there is a script to build it all and run the test suite under qemu just to be sure [2]. [1] https://www.netbsd.org/docs/guide/en/chap-build.html https://www.netbsd.org/docs/guide/en/chap-build.html [2] http://www.gson.org/netbsd/anita/ http://www.gson.org/netbsd/anita/
- kbaker 12y ago
  For a Linux distro, definitely check out the Yocto Project which has similar goals. It is quickly taking over the embedded Linux BSP space. In addition to configuring and building the entire OS base image, including cross-compiling, managing the base image, including custom third-party software, testing with a qemu image etc., it also coordinates working with a team of developers during development by managing build artifacts, and controls software updates to the new distro after it is deployed by building apt- or rpm- (or opkg-) style packages automatically. Maybe a bit of a learning curve, but it is very well documented and has a large community and some big companies behind it. Definitely worth it for the flexibility. - https://www.yoctoproject.org/ https://www.yoctoproject.org/ - https://www.yoctoproject.org/docs/current/yocto-project-qs/yocto-project-qs.html https://www.yoctoproject.org/docs/current/yocto-project-qs/y...
g3 12y ago
You can try it here: http://copy.sh/v86/?profile=custom&cdrom.url=https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/61029208/minimal_linux_live_07-Feb-2015_32-bit.iso http://copy.sh/v86/?profile=custom&cdrom.url=https://dl.drop...
tux 12y ago
Awesome, I've been looking for mini ubuntu iso. Ubuntu server is good but still bloated. It should be called Ubuntu Mini or Mini-Linux. Now all we need is for DigitalOcean to add this and we can use it for development :)
- mverwijs 12y ago
  The project has nothing whatsoever to do with Ubuntu. It merely let's you build an own operating system based on a Linux kernel + Busybox. That is it. The kernel. And busybox. It's really cool. But it's not Ubuntu.
- beagle3 12y ago
  This is unrelated to Ubuntu. Ubuntu has a minimal install - it's called the net install, it's a short iso, and it installs much less than a server install.
- tux 12y ago
  Really ? I thought it is because they say this; "If you work with Ubuntu, the following commands should resolve all necessary build dependencies:" Also use apt-get Thanks for the down votes for honest mistake lol
haneefmubarak 12y ago
Out of curiosity, what userspace `libc` do you provide?
- tyho 12y ago
  The only userspace application is busybox. I think it is statically linked against whatever you have installed on the machine doing the build.
  - haneefmubarak 12y ago
    So one can't install other applications or build upon the resulting OS? Is it just for light shell scripting then?
    - tyho 12y ago
      You can so long as they have libc statically linked.
RexRollman 12y ago
Nice. I know of some people at the LinuxBBQ forums who should like this.
69_years_and 12y ago
This is really cool - have a read of the tutorial it presents what's going on in a concise manner. Makes it all seem quite simple... until it gets to the end. "Nice work" to the author.

91 points by eterps 12y ago

So, a system that automates generating a Linux distro from scratch. Except for the fun, I can't figure out the application. It doesn't seem to match Buildroot or Yocto for embedded systems, but people can assume that; I suggest describing the objectives in the first paragraphs.

fit2rule 12y ago
As an old-time user of Linux, I'm surprised by the dis-interest in the idea of collecting a short, sweet, succinct set of minimal scripts with the intention of demonstrate the building a new Linux instance. Linux is all about building ones own distribution, always has been .. unless you have someone else do it for you. But this is not a distro. Its more of a porting kit. It used to be that the only way to use Linux, was to use scripts like this. Well, it point of fact: all distros are constructed of such mechanics. This is a very minimal one. The next step would be to put a 10_compiler.sh step in the pipeline, and then build the kernel again. This project seems to be a new, fresh look at the game, I suppose. The linux-from-scratch approach is also a good way to break in newly built hardware in my experience, too. If you've got nothing but these scripts, you can .. continuing the tradition .. continue to put Linux .. just about anywhere. So, like I said .. a porting kit. Linux All Things.
- listic 12y ago
  I guess it could be convenient to start with something like this, if I wanted to make an entirely new Linux distro, with its own package management and basic stuff like that. Right? I am actually interested to start with a tweaked Ubuntu, so I guess this kind of script is not what I need.
- mhd 12y ago
  Actually, considering the current state of Linux I wouldn't mind a set of instructions that details the setup of a more modern base Linux, including stuff like systemd and udev.
  - digi_owl 12y ago
    Linux From Scratch maintains both a classic and systemd based guide these days. http://www.linuxfromscratch.org/lfs/view/stable/ http://www.linuxfromscratch.org/lfs/view/stable/ http://www.linuxfromscratch.org/lfs/view/stable-systemd/ http://www.linuxfromscratch.org/lfs/view/stable-systemd/ Note also that they have a project similar to the one linked to: http://www.linuxfromscratch.org/alfs/ http://www.linuxfromscratch.org/alfs/
  - lloydde 12y ago
    Gentoo embedded project is worth looking at. A previous employer had this at the heart of their product. It was a pleasure to work with. http://www.gentoo.org/proj/en/base/embedded/ http://www.gentoo.org/proj/en/base/embedded/

vezzy-fnord 12y ago

You might also be interested in the Aboriginal Linux project, which is similar in intent, but also devoted to easy cross-compilation: http://landley.net/aboriginal/about.html http://landley.net/aboriginal/about.html

justincormack 12y ago

The best designed and implemented of these scripts has always been NetBSD's build.sh. Builds the whole OS, including base userspace, compiler etc and ISO images. Configurable. And it cross compiles so you can do the whole thing from OSX or whatever. It builds all the tools you need to do the build, such as (cross) compilers etc. Basically download source then [1] ./build.sh -U -u -m amd64 release You can change the options too. Very well designed, if you like this sort of thing. And there is a script to build it all and run the test suite under qemu just to be sure [2]. [1] https://www.netbsd.org/docs/guide/en/chap-build.html https://www.netbsd.org/docs/guide/en/chap-build.html [2] http://www.gson.org/netbsd/anita/ http://www.gson.org/netbsd/anita/

kbaker 12y ago
For a Linux distro, definitely check out the Yocto Project which has similar goals. It is quickly taking over the embedded Linux BSP space. In addition to configuring and building the entire OS base image, including cross-compiling, managing the base image, including custom third-party software, testing with a qemu image etc., it also coordinates working with a team of developers during development by managing build artifacts, and controls software updates to the new distro after it is deployed by building apt- or rpm- (or opkg-) style packages automatically. Maybe a bit of a learning curve, but it is very well documented and has a large community and some big companies behind it. Definitely worth it for the flexibility. - https://www.yoctoproject.org/ https://www.yoctoproject.org/ - https://www.yoctoproject.org/docs/current/yocto-project-qs/yocto-project-qs.html https://www.yoctoproject.org/docs/current/yocto-project-qs/y...

g3 12y ago

You can try it here: http://copy.sh/v86/?profile=custom&cdrom.url=https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/61029208/minimal_linux_live_07-Feb-2015_32-bit.iso http://copy.sh/v86/?profile=custom&cdrom.url=https://dl.drop...

tux 12y ago

Awesome, I've been looking for mini ubuntu iso. Ubuntu server is good but still bloated. It should be called Ubuntu Mini or Mini-Linux. Now all we need is for DigitalOcean to add this and we can use it for development :)

mverwijs 12y ago
The project has nothing whatsoever to do with Ubuntu. It merely let's you build an own operating system based on a Linux kernel + Busybox. That is it. The kernel. And busybox. It's really cool. But it's not Ubuntu.
beagle3 12y ago
This is unrelated to Ubuntu. Ubuntu has a minimal install - it's called the net install, it's a short iso, and it installs much less than a server install.
tux 12y ago
Really ? I thought it is because they say this; "If you work with Ubuntu, the following commands should resolve all necessary build dependencies:" Also use apt-get Thanks for the down votes for honest mistake lol

haneefmubarak 12y ago

Out of curiosity, what userspace `libc` do you provide?

tyho 12y ago
The only userspace application is busybox. I think it is statically linked against whatever you have installed on the machine doing the build.
- haneefmubarak 12y ago
  So one can't install other applications or build upon the resulting OS? Is it just for light shell scripting then?
  - tyho 12y ago
    You can so long as they have libc statically linked.

RexRollman 12y ago

Nice. I know of some people at the LinuxBBQ forums who should like this.

69_years_and 12y ago

This is really cool - have a read of the tutorial it presents what's going on in a concise manner. Makes it all seem quite simple... until it gets to the end. "Nice work" to the author.