create new distro

drimer · 03-11-2014, 05:13 PM

Hello 4 all
I want to created a distro based on debian.
I want to remove some packages to reduce its size and obtain an optimal distro

help me please
and thanks in advance

brianL · 03-11-2014, 05:28 PM

Don't you think there are enough distros (291 active) out there already?
What's the point of reducing Debian, when using the netinstall CD you can just install the basic/core (whatever-they're- called) packages and then install exactly what you want?
Try Linux From Scratch.

sycamorex · 03-11-2014, 05:42 PM

I agree with Brian - we do not need another distro - Your efforts will be much better spent if you help contribute to one of the existing distros.

Having said that, you are free to do whatever you want to do. If it's just an exercise to see if you can do it, then start with thorough google research, there must be lots of tutorials on how to do it.

ReaperX7 · 03-11-2014, 06:12 PM

Creating another spinoff distribution isn't going to do you any good. There's more than enough distributions out there. If you want a different kind of system that you can tailor to your needs, as mentioned above go with Linux From Scratch or try out Gentoo. These will be more suitable for your needs.

TobiSGD · 03-11-2014, 08:44 PM

I would think that for this purpose Gentoo and LFS are just overkill, Debian will do the job just fine. I also see nothing wrong with creating a spinoff for personal use. I have done that myself, so that for my experiments with Debian I could easily install a known software combination into a VM that resembled the OSes on my physical machines.

There are several approaches to do that:
- Classic installation: Using the Debian Installer and its preseeding feature: https://wiki.debian.org/DebianInstaller/Preseed
- Live installation: Using Debian Live and its scripts to create an installable Live-medium: http://live.debian.net/
Those both ways are a great learning experience and at least for me they were definitely useful to know.

But you can also choose a more manual approach:
- Install a minimal system (either use a netinstall CD, or debootstrap and add kernel and bootloader)
- Install all the packages you want to have in the system, configure them, make a copy of your config files
- Get a package list:

Code:

dpkg --get-selections > packages

If you now want to set up a similar system start again with a minimal install. Then just use the package list to install all the packages:

Code:

dpkg --set-selections < packages
apt-get dselect-upgrade

After that just copy over your config files and you are done.

brianL · 03-12-2014, 04:18 AM

There's a difference between "creating a new distro" and "creating a spinoff for personal use". Everybody customises their chosen distro, but wouldn't claim it was anything new. Too many "new" distros are "old" distros with simple, minor changes that anyone could do to the original.

Randicus Draco Albus · 03-12-2014, 05:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brianL

Everybody customises their chosen distro, but wouldn't claim it was anything new.

Not everyone. A while back I ran across a link in the blog section to someone who has "created" several such "derivatives." Ubuntu with Gnome, Debian with some GUI (I forget which one), Mint with some GUI (forget again), etc., and each one has a name.

TobiSGD · 03-12-2014, 06:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brianL

There's a difference between "creating a new distro" and "creating a spinoff for personal use". Everybody customises their chosen distro, but wouldn't claim it was anything new. Too many "new" distros are "old" distros with simple, minor changes that anyone could do to the original.

I don't see why we should discourage a member from making his own experiments with a new distro/spinoff/whatever_you_want_to_call_it. This is open source, everybody is free to do whatever he/she wants and if there are questions we should be there to help with our knowledge as good as possible.

brianL · 03-12-2014, 07:06 AM

Yeah, I agree. But would those experiments/changes justify calling the result a new distro? My Slackware is probably different to your Slackware, and is different to a fresh install, but it's still the same distro. It's not Brianware. Debian, with bits removed, is still Debian.

TobiSGD · 03-12-2014, 07:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brianL

Yeah, I agree. But would those experiments/changes justify calling the result a new distro? My Slackware is probably different to your Slackware, and is different to a fresh install, but it's still the same distro. It's not Brianware. Debian, with bits removed, is still Debian.

It is actually hard to tell when a new distro begins and when it is still a spinoff.
Anyways, I think in this case the OP may have used the wrong word, but that should not lead to us discouraging him in his efforts.

snowday · 03-12-2014, 07:54 AM

"Distribution" comes from the word "to distribute" so the first step is to find other users with common values/goals and form a community.

"Help me please" might be too vague...

drimer · 03-12-2014, 02:08 PM

Thanks for your reply
I have already created a distro LFS 7.3
now I want only modifies the United distro to have optimal distro to satisfy my needs.
so I want to have the source code of the debian installer for changes it
and choose the packages I want to install