I've created a live-build development environment for those interested in how to make there own distro using Debian/Devuan Live-Build.
Live-Build 4.x has been used, which supports Debian/Devuan Jessie.
The first place to start is with the manual and the manpages. I suggest that the manpages lb_config.1.txt and lb_clean.1.txt, should be looked at first, after reading the manual.
I've also used live-boot.7.txt if using -bootappend-live in lb config.
https://debian-live.alioth.debian.org/live-manual/html/live-manual.en.htmlhttp://manpages.debian.org/cgi-bin/man.cgi?query=live-confighttp://manpages.debian.org/cgi-bin/man.cgi?query=live-boothttp://manpages.debian.org/cgi-bin/man.cgi?query=live-toolshttp://manpages.ubuntu.com/manpages/oneiric/lb_clean.1..htmlOverviewThis Debian/Devuan Live-Build demonstration will endeavor to provide the reader with the basics of Live-Build and some essential commands necessary to use it to create an installable/live iso.
For the purposes of this demonstration and to keep it simple, the target desktop environment will be:
RequirementsThis example uses Debian/Devuan Jessie as the build environment
Step 1. Install live-build on Star or Debian/Devuan Jessiesudo apt-get install live-build live-manual
/usr/share/doc/live-manual/
Step 2. SetupOpen a terminal window in your home directory and run the following commands:
wget -c "http://sourceforge.net/projects/linnix/files/diy-debian.tar.gz"
tar -zxvf diy-debian.tar.gz
cd diy-distro
sudo ./menu
or
wget -c "http://sourceforge.net/projects/linnix/files/diy-devuan.tar.gz"
tar -zxvf diy-devuan.tar.gz
cd diy-distro
sudo ./menu
Main directory structure
diy-distro
├── diy-build
└── diy-source
Sub-directories
diy-build
├── auto
├── config
└── local
diy-source
├── auto <--------- build, clean, config scripts
└── config
├── apt
├── archives
├── bootloaders
│ └── isolinux
├── hooks
├── includes.binary
├── includes.chroot
│ ├── etc
│ │ ├── dpkg
│ │ ├── lightdm
│ │ ├── live <--------- live user setup
│ │ └── skel <--------- skeleton /home directory
│ └── usr
│ ├── bin
│ ├── lib
│ ├── local
│ └── share
├── includes.installer <--------- installer preseed.cfg file and logo/theme update for the graphical installer
└── package-lists <--------- lists of packages to be installed
└── packages.chroot <--------- packages to be installed
packages.chroot: Packages that are inside this
directory will be automatically installed into the live system during
build - you do not need to specify them elsewhere.
DIY Menu
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
M A I N - M E N U
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Build version [8.2]
s. Setup
r. Remove
u. Update
b. Build
p. Purge
q. Quit
Enter choice or q :
Build version [8.2]: This the current Debian/Devuan version number. See Update below.
Setup: creates a clean diy-build directory and all the directories required for live-build.
Copies the default: build, clean and config files into the auto directory.
WARNING: diy-build directory is deleted in the process, if it exists
NOTE : The diy-build diectory is owned by root. If the permissions in the build folder
aren't root the build will fail or be corrupt.
Remove: Removes the diy-build directory.
N.B. if Build has been run, then Purge should be done before Remove.
Update: Copies contents of diy-source into diy-build, and updates the files with version number inside
that are in /config/includes.chroot/etc/
See _VERSION=8.2 in the menu script, change this to suit.
I find it easier to work with files/directories I own, which are in the diy-source directory.
It's up to you whether you do it my way or not.
Build: Runs the build script in diy-build, which runs lb clean, lb config and lb build.
The build can be run in a separate terminal window, see build() in the script.
Purge: removes everything, including all caches. The config directory is kept.
sudo lb clean --purge
lb clean, is responsible for cleaning up after a system is built. It
removes the build directories, and removes some other files including
stage files, and any detritus left behind by other live-build commands.
Important It is important to check the build log after the build, which can be found in diy-build.
This will help in resolving any build errors.
Squashfs - better compression NOTE: Already included in Devuan Live-Build
http://www.tldp.org/HOWTO/html_single/SquashFS-HOWTO/#whatis http://www.tldp.org/HOWTO/html_single/SquashFS-HOWTO/#mksqoverview auto/build
Add this line before the lb build in the build script.
export MKSQUASHFS_OPTIONS=" -no-recovery -always-use-fragments -b 1048576"
auto/config
Add --chroot-filesystem squashfs to lb config
/usr/lib/live/build/binary_rootfs
I changed the live containg -comp xz to -comp xz -Xbcj x86 -Xdict-size 75%
about line 357
from
MKSQUASHFS_OPTIONS="${MKSQUASHFS_OPTIONS} -comp xz"
to
MKSQUASHFS_OPTIONS="${MKSQUASHFS_OPTIONS} -comp xz -Xbcj x86 -Xdict-size 75%"
Debian/Devuan differences- Currently Devuan doesn't include non-free OOTB. Non-fee can be installed from the Welcome script.
diy-debian/devuanDisclaimer: This is not intended as a clone of VSIDO and is only intended as an example of Debian Live-Build.
Tips:
- These hooks: 990-cleanup.chroot, 300-localepurge.chroot, are used to remove and resize files to make the image smaller.
- Setup-user script is run on login from /etc/light/lightdm.conf - session-setup-script=/usr/share/diy/setup-user
- installer preseed used to pre-answer install questions is in /config/includes.installer. The update script copies preseed.cfg to /config/includes.binary/install so the live install can use it. Also see live-build config --bootappend-live.
- Setup session-manager, there is a hook session-manager_alternative.chroot and 2 files in /config/includes.chroot/usr/share/xsessions jwm.desktop, lightdm-xsession.desktop.
References:
25-06-2015 :
LightDM Default Session and x-session-manager setupStar websiteZephyr LinuxThe Debian Administrator's HandbookInstalling, Step by StepLast updated : 9 February 2016
