Show HN: Build your Linux from Scratch inside Docker with one command

Show HN: Build your Linux from Scratch inside Docker with one command(github.com)

94 points by eiskalt 8 years ago | 28 comments

Seems to defeat the purpose of 'from scratch' if all you do is run a script.

I fondly remember building linux from scratch in the early 00's and learning quite a bit about how a system is put together by doing (and troubleshooting) the steps. IIRC bootstrapping the compiler was the trickiest bit since the fedora (or maybe it was still redhat back then) gcc didn't like to play nice with its younger siblings.

digi_owl 8 years ago | |

And these days looking at the LFS books makes one wonder how much crap/complications Freedesktop has crammed into the middle layer in the name of DE userfriendliness....

jiggunjer 8 years ago | |

What's the difference between writing x commands and hitting enter once, vs writing x commands and waiting for each command to finish? This is a good starting point for people who already know Linux and want a lean self-built system.

finnthehuman 8 years ago | | |

>What's the difference between writing x commands and hitting enter once, vs writing x commands and waiting for each command to finish?

The point of homework is to do it yourself, not to clone a repo with the answers.

roenxi 8 years ago | | |

The secret assumption is that things will break and the builder will learn how things might break and how to fix them.

I've had a lot of fun with LFS, but if everything goes smoothly it is a bit pointless. When builds broke or I missed components there was an opportunity to better my understanding of the system. Experience with multiple failure modes in a safe environment - it counts for a lot.

It also forces you to learn what the dependency graph looks like and a little bit of why, which can be helpful.

UncleEntity 8 years ago | | |

Not gonna be all that lean with all the build tools and whatnot. And isn't all that practical without package management.

Linux kernel + busybox + few unit scripts == lean

But, you know, to each their own -- don't get me wrong, I really enjoyed tinkering with LFS back in the day.

m_mueller 8 years ago | | |

I don't really get what's different compared to using something like `from debian:jessie`. In what ways is this more lean?

Xeoncross 8 years ago |

Interesting invention "Standard Build Units" (SBUs) as a measurement of time to build/compile.

http://www.linuxfromscratch.org/~bdubbs/about.html

zwischenzug 8 years ago |

I did something similar a few years ago:

https://zwischenzugs.com/2015/01/12/make-your-own-bespoke-do...

it was a great learning experience but take-up was 0 :)

rkagerer 8 years ago |

Why are the docs at linuxfromscratch.org still based on 4.12 instead of 4.14? Have they just not gotten around to updating, or is 4.12 considered more widely accepted?

I want to deep dive into building Linux from scratch (step by step, not via a magic script) to get intimately familiar with the OS, but wonder if I ought to invest my time in a more recent version.

eiskalt 8 years ago | |

As magic script author, who completed the book step by step, I want to say, you won't get "intimately familiar with the OS" after completion. What you will learn: * needed packages: purpose, how and in which order to build them * really basics of OS configuration * fault intolerance to mistakes

So, why I've built such script? I think it is needed for the next steps, where you actually might want to modify kernel/tools/configuration to gain the knowledge how things are (not-)working.

wila 8 years ago | |

You are talking about kernel versions?

Version 4.12 was from July 2017 until September 2017 (0)

Right now the main line kernel is at 4.14, but it has not changed so much that it really matters for learning Linux.

[0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linux_kernel#4.x.y_releases

rkagerer 8 years ago | | |

I am. Do you think the same steps will work with 4.14? (Or at least that any changes I need to make would be straightforward enough for a relative beginner to figure out?)

provost 8 years ago |

So if I'm understanding this correctly, this builds the LFS kernel inside a docker container into an ISO image that can be used with VirtualBox, but cannot be used within a Docker container itself?

eiskalt 8 years ago | |

Yes, that's correct. The goal was to use the whole LFS's system including OS kernel. Docker, AFAIK, uses host's kernel, see info here https://docs.docker.com/get-started/#virtual-machine-diagram

Anyway, it should be possible to build image for docker container if necessary.

jakeogh 8 years ago |

LFS is a gateway to Gentoo;)

nickstinemates 8 years ago | |

Gentoo is such a great learning platform. Stage 3 installs really educate you on how a linux machine is built. Portage on how system services are built in a modular (or not) way. It creates such a different relationship with the user than most other OS's.

jason_slack 8 years ago |

This idea is interesting. I recently started a LFS project but quickly ran into I am traveling a lot right now.

Any thoughts on using a virtual machine to practice while I travel? VMWare Fusion?

giancarlostoro 8 years ago | |

I don't see why this wouldn't work?

digi_owl 8 years ago |

I thought LFS already had an automated variant for the base book. Supposedly the latest Gobolinux was bootstrapped using a variant of it.

throwaway2016a 8 years ago |

First thought was the website http://www.linuxfromscratch.org/ and book.

Edit: low and behold under "License"...

"This work is based on instructions from Linux from Scratch project and provided with MIT license."

jfoutz 8 years ago | |

My first thought was this old chestnut http://bash.org/?464385

dboreham 8 years ago | |

That's what the article is about.