Using linux as 'fireware' for my HTPC.

[czanchez]

I've played with linux in the past, but never tried to do anything with it.

I randomly met someone through my work and he has a HTPC that he installed linux and it boots to his media program when loaded up. The system doesn't have a linux gui or any of those other things, its just the programs. Like maybe MythTV, and some other components.

I want to use this for an old PC that works fine playing movies and watching TV with windows, and I think it would be so much cooler to just click the power button and it loads up pretty quickly, almost as if it is the OS of the box.

I found a distribution of Linux that comes with MythTV packaged, but it still is linux. I also found something called LFS (linux from scratch) and I'm wondering if this is the way to go?

This is what I think would be easiest though. I've used Ubuntu and I like the package system (installing and removing components). Could I just remove everything I want, add what I need. Customize it. Then finally remove the gui and boot to program, restart, and it's set?

Thanks for all the help.

[Cabhan]

Linux From Scratch will not work for you. You basically create your own distro: doing what you want is very possible, but requires a great deal of Linux knowledge.

Further, Ubuntu does not offer that level of customization.

What I would recommend is either Debian or Gentoo (both of which are very customizable), and using IceWM (a very lightweight window manager).

I haven't installed Debian in a good long time, so I can't say much about it. Gentoo's installation can be difficult if you don't know your computer, but isn't overly difficult if you do (though it is time-consuming).

Maybe some others can offer further insights.

[czanchez]

Cool, thanks for the help. I downloaded Gentoo and tried to install it, and most of the stuff it asked me, confused the hell out of me. I'll have to read up on it.