Attempting "Linux From Scratch"

[CptKrf]

I am attempting to build my own Distro using Linux From Scratch, not because I have a dislike of Debian, but it looks like an interesting project. (*Note "attempting" equals "I have just started and am reading the voluminous documentation very carefully.")

I usually don't try something of this magnitude using someone else's instructions because, usually, they are out of date (2012 or 2017 or the like) or have missing utilities, libraries, or my favorite, the documentation header says, "I really need to write docs for this someday."

(Actually, the above is not entirely true. My favorite is "This website is optimized for IE6.")

But, LFS seems very complete with a LONG doc of instruction and absolutely all of required utilities were current and easily found. The instructions give that this project can be done on a production machine without worry of destruction, since it uses a separate drive and partition, but I have dedicated an old discontinued Ryzen 5 tower to the project because of A - cowardice, and B - Memories of other software work that had similar guarantees ("This can't possibly affect...")

We'll see. So far so good.

 

[dos2unix]

Congrats, it's an exercise I think all Linux users should go through at least once.

I used my homemade distro as my daily driver for a while, but it got to be too much to keep up with.
Still, I applaud your willingness to do this, it makes us appreciate how much work has gone into the mainstream distros.

 

[f33dm3bits]

Congrats, it's an exercise I think all Linux users should go through at least once.

I've never done it. I don't find the need to since I don't need to know how to make my own distribution in order to be able to use a Linux distribution. Maybe at some point when I am really bored I might do other things right now.

 

[CptKrf]

Back in the RedHat free days and system boards without I/O, compiling your kernel was a common need to get various adapter cards working. But as Linux became essentially PNP, my skills moved from hacking to using. Just recently, I realized just how much inside knowledge I have forgotten. So, this is a way to relearn the internals and have some fun in the meantime. And becoming a necessity as I move further away from Apple BSD, which is becoming far more Apple and far less BSD with each new release.

 

[Zev]

I have always thought of Linux from Scratch as a good and enriching educational exercise, I want to give it a spin one day.

 

[KGIII]

LFS is very, very educational. In my opinion, it's worth doing at least once. It's mostly a book that tells you how to create a Linux OS by yourself. The thing is, you need to follow it entirely. Do not miss a step and do not look for outside answers or you'll potentially end up failing and frustrated.

 

[Zev]

I enjoy and appreciate reading, as well as think of myself as good at following instructions, so I feel that Linux from Scratch might indeed be the next great step in my journey to get to know and appreciate Linux better!