- To be a valuable resource for all things related to building GNU/Linux systems from source
- Aimed at the more technically adept Linux user. Not
everything is described in excruciating detail for newbies. Folks
interested in this project will typically:
- Have been running Linux boxes for 3 or more years
- Have already done LFS
- Be control freaks that simply must do it themselves
- Newbies are directed to the LFS project
- Education is NOT a primary goal (although huge opportunities for learning exist due to the kinds of things we do)
- Cater for non-standard procedures like cross compiling and building uClibc based systems and any other "off the wall" scenarios that crop up. Basically anything related to toolchain technology
- A strong focus on Correctness, Testing, Automation (i.e.
scripting) and Package Management
- There is a "reference" build. This means folks can take the Reference Build and customize it to their heart's content. There are no huge flame fests about what packages go in or out as it's just a Reference Build
- Folks are encouraged to share their work/build scripts/whatever they feel like contributing
The Reference Build
- Build a reasonably up-to-date and usable base GNU/Linux system from source
- "Usable" implies the use of Package Management. Therefore the build recipe strives to accommodate general Package Management principles
- The build method used to bootstrap the Reference Build must be robust and work from a virgin default dev install of every major Linux distro released within the last 5 years. Installing upgraded tools on the host defeats the purpose and therefore does not qualify
- It must also work the other way around i.e. be buildable from the latest cutting edge distros
- The base system must be able to build a wide range of commonly used open source software
- The base system must be self-hosting i.e. be able to
rebuild itself reproducibly with verification provided by a binary
comparison technique known as Iterative Comparison Analysis (ICA).
- Uses pristine upstream sources with as few patches as possible and as minimal build commands as possible (within reason)
- We monitor what the mainstream distros are doing and attempt to follow where appropriate. We do NOT adopt new technologies into the reference build before they are ready. But there is nothing stopping folks from playing around with and discussing whatever they want
Administrivia
- Primary means of communication is via subscription-only mailing lists. Off-list development is outlawed
- The project is run as a benevolent dictatorship by the Project Lead, Greg Schafer, who reserves the right to make judgment calls on anything he sees fit to judge on, including evicting trolls, trouble makers and individuals guilty of anti-social behavior
