Linux From Scratch (LFS)

[WinSlayer]

Linux From Scratch (LFS) is a type of a Linux installation and the name of a book written by Gerard Beekmans among others. In that book the reader is given instructions on how to build a Linux system from source. The book is available freely from the Linux From Scratch website and is currently in version 6.4.

To keep LFS small and focused, the book Beyond Linux From Scratch (BLFS) was created which presents instructions on how to further develop the basic Linux system that was created in LFS. It introduces and guides the reader through additions to the system including networking, X, sound, printer and scanner support. Current Stable release of Beyond Linux From Scratch is 6.3 and was released on August 28 2007. Since Release 5.0, the BLFS book version matches the LFS book version.

In addition to LFS and BLFS books Cross Linux from Scratch describes cross compiling and Hardened Linux From Scratch focuses on security enhancements like use of Stack-smashing protection, PaX and Address space layout randomization using grsecurity. Cross Linux from Scratch provides the necessary instructions to build a base, command line only Linux distribution. While LFS is limited to the x86 architecture, CLFS supports a broader range of processors. CLFS addresses advanced techniques not included in the LFS book such as cross-build toolchains, multilibrary support (32 & 64-bit libraries side-by-side), and alternative hardware architectures such as x86-64, Itanium, SPARC, MIPS, and DEC Alpha. Hardened Linux From Scratch focuses on creating a more secure version of the original Linux From Scratch as its main purpose, including embedded systems.

Linux From Scratch is a way to install a working Linux system by building all components of it manually. This is, naturally, a longer process than installing a pre-compiled Linux distribution. According to the Linux From Scratch website, the advantages to this method are a compact, flexible and secure system and a greater understanding of the internal workings of the Linux OS.

You Can Read the book online for free from here, or you can download it from here. Its better to download the file as its only 175KB in size.

Linux From Scratch (LFS) is a project that provides you with step-by-step instructions for building your own custom Linux system, entirely from source code.

[DanielV]

Currently, the Linux From Scratch organization consists of the following subprojects:

LFS - Linux From Scratch is the main book, the base from which all other projects are derived.
BLFS - Beyond Linux From Scratch helps you extend your finished LFS installation into a more customized and usable system.
ALFS - Automated Linux From Scratch provides tools for automating and managing LFS and BLFS builds.
CLFS - Cross Linux From Scratch provides the means to cross-compile an LFS system on many types of systems.
HLFS - Hardened Linux From Scratch focuses on building an LFS system with heightened security.
Hints - The Hints project is a collection of documents that explain how to enhance your LFS system in ways that are not included in the LFS or BLFS books.
LiveCD - The LiveCD project provides a CD that is useful as an LFS build host or as a general rescue CD.
Patches - The Patches project serves as a central repository for all patches useful to an LFS user.