Linux from Scratch?

[Dann]

So I'm very new to linux, been using it (ubuntu) as my main os for about a month or so. I'm learning a lot about it, but I'd like to know more.

I came across a site/book called 'linux from scratch' that helps you build your own distro. I have no experience doing this, but it seems like a good way to learn what exactly is going on behind the screen. I'd like to give it a shot. I'm pretty good at reading a manual/following directions. Does anyone think this is too big a project for me to try? Is there anything I should know before tackling linux from scratch?

Any imput, advice, tips, etc are appreciated.

[GNU-Fan]

Hello,

go for it.

I recommend to do this in virtual machine though if you have no second computer from which you can browse for help.

[kai12]

yes, i think that a big project. but if you are willing to put in lots of time...
plan lots of time for reading and compiling, and even more time for compiling if you put it up in a virtual machine (which i think is a great idea, apart from the loss of computation power).

let us know how this experiment went!
cheers, kai

[oz]

Yep, it's there and ready for anyone that wants to give it a go.

The only thing standing between you and achievement with Linux From Scratch is any reluctance that you might harbor.

Hope it works out well for you. Let us know how it goes.

[khafa]

as a newbie i wouldn't go for it. i mean i would master the basics such as command line, gnu tools , LKM, etc before . there is just too much material to chew and it will keep you going back and forth trying to know what is going on. it took me a week-end to compile most of it , im almost done with it but cant find time to finish it. there is too much to compile and to learn.

[Tsarevich]

That's an esoteric task. Big, in sense of humongous. I gave CRUX a try. I had to compile it five or six times kiling three hours at least each time. And CRUX is a preconfigurated distro. Only a series of simple instructions to compile it. But you don't know when one can take weeks. I don't recommend it. I now don't even use Ubuntu which is a a 1,000,000,000 times simpler and good. I use Windows. There is no point of compiling your own OS's when a lot many are there. Still, I am not discouraging.

"Men talk of killing time when time silently kills them," and I am an open example .

[Dann]

Well, I'm not building it because I need a distro. There are plenty that suit my needs just fine. And I certainly didn't plan on hammering it out in a weekend. I was just going to load lfs on an old laptop and when I have time, do a little bit of work, look up what I'm doing and why I'm doing it, and what I'm doing does.

Basically, I thought it would give me a better understanding of what's going on. Even if it comes out like total garbage, I'm sure some stuff would stick with me.

[Manchunian]

There is no point of compiling your own OS's when a lot many are there.

I don't agree with that at all. If you really want to know what's going on under the hood, nothing's better than Linux from Scratch. But I think you should get a bit more experience first. Start off on something simple, then progressively move onto more and more complicated distros. When you can successfully install and use Gentoo, then you could consider Linux from Scratch. You may find that Gentoo scares you off though- it is a massive undertaking in itself, but much easier than building your own OS using Linux from Scratch. This is what happened to me, in fact. After two weeks of Gentoo, I understood where the boundaries lay for me and that Linux from Scratch was just not for me.

[oz]

It's practically guaranteed that you'll learn something from the experience even if your LFS doesn't work in the end, and if you should keep on messing with it, I'll bet it will start working.

[kostasan]

Use Ubuntu for the time being and when you feel more comfortable with Linux and have gained a bit more knowlegde try a distribution like Slackware or Gentoo, which are considered more hardcore. Fedora has a great tool to help you build your own Fedora-based distribution quite easily. Maybe you should try that first to get a taste about making your own distro.