Iris GNU/Linux

Iris is a lightweight GNU/Linux distribution based on Linux From Scratch. It comes with the package manager xbps and void repositories.

Current Iris GNU/Linux version: 0.3 (codename orchid)

Current Linux kernel version: 6.0.2

Current LFS version: 10.0 (SystemV)

Current xbps version: 0.60

Architecture: x86_64

Installation

As of now, Iris GNU/Linux only provides the rootfs to the system. You can't install it without the help of another operating system (ideally also GNU/Linux). A few steps might need to be followed (guide yourself with the following book):

• Create and mount the system partitions as appropriate.
• Untar the rootfs on the desired partition (where / would be).
• Mount the virtual kernel file systems.
• Enter to the chroot using the command found in the section -Entering the Chroot Environment- from the book above.
• Set a password for the root user (default: root).
• Edit /etc/fstab and any other configuration file required to suit your needs.
• Set-up the boot loader.

You can set-up the new boot-loader installed on the new system or the host bootloader if applicable. If the last, it is better to exit first from the chroot.

• Exit from the chroot and umount the filesystems.

(instructions extracted from jhalfs)

Tips and troubleshooting

• Iris GNU/Linux installs all packages to /usr instead of /usr/local by default, as Linux From Scratch does.
• If you find problems with libraries, you might need to execute the command "ldconfig" as root.
• You might need to follow Chapter 9 from the Linux From Scratch 10.0 book for further system configuration.
• You might need some init scripts from the BLFS Boot Scripts for the different programs you might install from the void repositories. Be warned, not all init scripts might be found on the BLFS Boot Scripts, but probably the most common ones will.
• Avoid exectuing "remove-la-files.sh" because it may interfere with packages managed by xbps. It is intended for developer purposes only. More information here.
• You might need to execute "/usr/sbin/make-ca -g" as a root user from time to time (ideally weekly) to update the various certificate stores. Alternatively, you might automate it using Fcron.
• If you are having trouble configuring a package from the void repositories, try checking out the BLFS book. You might find more information of how to get it working there.

TO-DO list

• Base system packages (including kernel) are not taken into account by xbps unless previously specified by the user, or re-installed as dependencies by xbps.
• Have a Live-ISO experience, ideally with working installation process.
• Testing how desktop environments perform installation-wise and ideally document it.