aboutsummaryrefslogtreecommitdiffstats
path: root/chapter01/how.xml
diff options
context:
space:
mode:
authorGerard Beekmans <gerard@linuxfromscratch.org>2002-05-31 12:03:05 +0000
committerGerard Beekmans <gerard@linuxfromscratch.org>2002-05-31 12:03:05 +0000
commitc61dd1e8cd538930bbffedec17564b535e6e47d6 (patch)
treecd2a2c8f2218c41dd19fb7154770d2253e7fe004 /chapter01/how.xml
parent53c19e734b65febebc76cfb79d55067b8ebd21bf (diff)
applied Scot's LFS-BOOK-CVS-20020530-XML.patch
git-svn-id: http://svn.linuxfromscratch.org/LFS/trunk/BOOK@1954 4aa44e1e-78dd-0310-a6d2-fbcd4c07a689
Diffstat (limited to 'chapter01/how.xml')
-rw-r--r--chapter01/how.xml88
1 files changed, 53 insertions, 35 deletions
diff --git a/chapter01/how.xml b/chapter01/how.xml
index 75e1702f3..b3cd9b439 100644
--- a/chapter01/how.xml
+++ b/chapter01/how.xml
@@ -2,47 +2,65 @@
<title>How things are going to be done</title>
<?dbhtml filename="how.html" dir="chapter01"?>
-<para>We are going to build the LFS system by using an already installed Linux
-distribution such as Debian, SuSe, Slackware, Mandrake, RedHat, etc. There
-is no need to have any kind of bootdisk. We will use an existing Linux
-system as the base (since we need a compiler, linker, text editor, and
-other tools).</para>
+<para>We are going to build the LFS system by using a previously installed
+Linux distribution such as Debian, SuSe, Slackware, Mandrake, RedHat, etc.
+We will use the existing Linux system as the development platform, because
+we need tools like a compiler, linker, text editor, and other necessary
+development tools to build our system. Ordinarily, the required tools are
+available by default if we selected "development" as one of our installation
+options when we installed the distributed Linux.</para>
<para>After you have downloaded the necessary packages that make up an LFS
-system you will create a new Linux native partition onto which the LFS system
-will be installed.</para>
-
-<para>The next step, chapter 5, will be the installation of a number of
-packages that are statically linked and installed on the LFS partition.
-These packages form a basic development suite which will be used to
-install the actual system, and are also needed to resolve circular
-dependencies. Examples of circular dependencies are: you need a compiler
-to install a compiler. You need a shell in order to install a shell. And
-so on.</para>
-
-<para>Chapter 6 installs the actual base system. We use the chroot program
-to start a new shell whose root directory will be set to the LFS
-partition. This, in essence, is the same as rebooting and having the
-kernel mount the LFS partition as the root partition. The reason that
-we don't actually reboot, but instead chroot, is that this way you can
-still use your host system. While software is being installed you can
-simply switch to a different VC (Virtual Console) or X desktop and
-continue using your computer as you normally would.</para>
-
-<para>When all the software is installed, chapter 7 will set up the boot
-scripts. Chapter 8 will set up the Linux boot loader and in chapter 9
-there are some pointers what you can do after you finish the book. Then
-you can finally reboot your system into your new LFS system, and start
-to really use it.</para>
+system we will create a new Linux native partition and filesystem. Here
+is where the LFS system will be compiled and installed.</para>
+
+<para>The next step, chapter 5, will discuss the installation of a number of
+packages that will form a basic development suite that is used to
+build the actual system, or needed to resolve circular dependencies. For
+example, you need a compiler to build a new compiler, and you need a shell
+in order to install a new shell. The packages in this chapter will be linked
+statically. Static linking describes a method of compiling software so that
+it does not require the presence of libraries when building is complete.
+The resulting program is able to function on its own. The program is able to
+do so because the pieces of the program that would normally remain in the
+libraries are copied from the libraries and built right into the program.
+Ordinarily software is built with dynamic linking. This conserves storage
+space and increases the efficiency of many programs. We statically link
+our software in chapter 5 because we will in theory be moving our
+development system to a virtual environment where the already mentioned
+libraries will be absent. If the software is built dynamically, our
+development suite will not function. Since the libraries we are talking
+about are provided by our distribution Linux, the goal of chapter 5 is to
+build a development environment where those libraries are not required
+and is therefore independent of the distribution.</para>
+
+<para>In chapter 6 we will build and install our final system. We will use
+the chroot program to enter a virtual environment and start a new shell
+whose root directory will be set to the partition where we built all the
+chapter 5 software. This is very similar to rebooting and instructing the
+kernel to mount our LFS partition as the root partition. The reason that
+we don't actually reboot, but instead chroot, is that creating a static
+system that we can boot into requires more work that simply isn't necessary.
+As well, we can continue to use our platform system while we are building
+LFS. While software is being compiled and installed you can simply switch
+to a different VC (Virtual Console) or X desktop and continue using your
+computer normally.</para>
+
+<para>When all the software from chapter 6 is installed, chapters 7,8 and 9
+will help us finalize our installation. We will set up our boot
+scripts in chapter 7. In chapter 8 we will build our final linux kernel and
+set up the Linux boot loader. Chapter 9 has some pointers to help you after
+you finish the book. Then finally, you reboot your system and boot into your
+new LFS system, and start to really use it.</para>
<para>This is the process in a nutshell. Detailed information on the steps
-you are taking are provided in the chapters as you go through them. If
-something isn't completely clear yet, don't worry. It will become very
-clear shortly.</para>
+we will take are discussed in the chapters and package descriptions as you
+progress through them. If something isn't completely clear now, don't worry.
+It should become very clear shortly.</para>
<para>Please read chapter 2 carefully as it explains a few important things
-you need to be aware of before you work your way through chapters 5 and
-above.</para>
+you should be aware of before you begin to work through chapters 5 and
+later.</para>
</sect1>