diff options
author | Bruce Dubbs <bdubbs@linuxfromscratch.org> | 2009-11-24 21:50:43 +0000 |
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committer | Bruce Dubbs <bdubbs@linuxfromscratch.org> | 2009-11-24 21:50:43 +0000 |
commit | a26951eac51f6289d21236b0b5603059ba17585d (patch) | |
tree | 7b0934532b5da334616fc65ca335c19536055e38 /prologue/why.xml | |
parent | 3684f6cc35bb7b7025957d930b38493e346f2b5e (diff) |
Separate standards page and rationale page
and reformat. Provided more information about packages
needed to satisfy LSB.
Also fixed a couple of typos.
git-svn-id: http://svn.linuxfromscratch.org/LFS/trunk/BOOK@9120 4aa44e1e-78dd-0310-a6d2-fbcd4c07a689
Diffstat (limited to 'prologue/why.xml')
-rw-r--r-- | prologue/why.xml | 457 |
1 files changed, 457 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/prologue/why.xml b/prologue/why.xml new file mode 100644 index 000000000..e21ab16c2 --- /dev/null +++ b/prologue/why.xml @@ -0,0 +1,457 @@ +<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"?> +<!DOCTYPE sect1 PUBLIC "-//OASIS//DTD DocBook XML V4.5//EN" + "http://www.oasis-open.org/docbook/xml/4.5/docbookx.dtd" [ + <!ENTITY % general-entities SYSTEM "../general.ent"> + %general-entities; +]> + +<sect1 id="pre-why"> + <?dbhtml filename="package-choices.html"?> + + <title>Rationale for Packages in the Book</title> + + <para>As stated earlier, the goal of LFS is to build a complete and usable + foundation-level system. This includes all packages needed to replicate + itself while providing a relativly minimal base from which to customize + a more complete system based on the choices of the user. This does not + mean that LFS is the smallest system possible. Several important packages + are included that are not strictly required. The lists below document the + rationale for each package in the book.</para> + + <itemizedlist> + + <listitem> + <para>Autoconf</para> + + <para>This package contains programs for producing shell scripts that + can automatically configure source code from a developer's + template. It is often needed to rebuild a package after updates + to the build procedures.</para> + </listitem> + + <listitem> + <para>Automake</para> + + <para>This package contains programs for generating Make files from + a template. It is often needed to rebuild a package after updates + to the build procedures.</para> + </listitem> + + <listitem> + <para>Bash</para> + + <para>This package satisfies an LSB core requirement to provide + a Bourne Shell interface to the system. It was chosen over + other shell packages because of its common usage and extensive + capabilities beyond basic shell functions. </para> + </listitem> + + <listitem> + <para>Binutils</para> + + <para>This package package contains a linker, an assembler, and other + tools for handling object files. </para> + </listitem> + + <listitem> + <para>Bison</para> + + <para>This package contains the GNU version of yacc (Yet Another + Compiler Compiler) needed to build several other LFS programs. + </para> + </listitem> + + <listitem> + <para>Bzip2</para> + + <para>This package contains programs for compressing and decompressing + files. It is required to decompress many LFS packages.</para> + </listitem> + + <listitem> + <para>Coreutils</para> + + <para>This package contains a number of essential programs for viewing + and manipulating files and directories. </para> + </listitem> + + <listitem> + <para>DejaGNU</para> + + <para>This package contains a framework for testing other programs. + It is only installed in the temporary toolchain.</para> + </listitem> + + <listitem> + <para>Diffutils</para> + + <para>This package contains programs that show the differences + between files or directories. </para> + </listitem> + + <listitem> + <para>Expect</para> + + <para>This package contains a program for carrying out scripted + dialogues with other interactive programs. It is commonly used + for testing other packages. It is only installed in the temporary + toolchain.</para> + </listitem> + + <listitem> + <para>E2fsprogs</para> + + <para>This package contains the utilities for handling the ext2, ext3 + and ext4 file systems. These are the most common and thouroughly + tested file systems that Linux supports.</para> + </listitem> + + <listitem> + <para>File</para> + + <para>This package contains a utility for determining the type of a + given file or files.</para> + </listitem> + + <listitem> + <para>Findutils</para> + + <para>This package contains programs to find files in a file system.</para> + </listitem> + + <listitem> + <para>Flex</para> + + <para>This package contains a utility for generating programs that + recognize patterns in text. It is the GNU version of the lex + (lexical analyzer) program. It is required to build several + LFS packages. </para> + </listitem> + + <listitem> + <para>Gawk</para> + + <para>This package contains programs for manipulating text files. + It is the GNU version of awk (Aho-Weinberg-Kernighan). </para> + </listitem> + + <listitem> + <para>Gcc</para> + + <para>This package is the Gnu Compiler Collection. It contains the + C and C++ compilers as well as several others not built by LFS. + </para> + </listitem> + + <listitem> + <para>GDBM</para> + + <para>This package contains the GNU Database Manager library. It + is used by one other LFS package, Man-DB. + </para> + </listitem> + + <listitem> + <para>Gettext</para> + + <para>This package contains utilities and libraries for + internationalization and localization of numerous packages. + </para> + </listitem> + + <listitem> + <para>Glibc</para> + + <para>This package contains the main C library. Linux programs would + not run without it. </para> + </listitem> + + <listitem> + <para>GMP</para> + + <para>This package package contains math libraries and have + useful functions for arbitrary precision arithmetic. It + is required to build Gcc. </para> + </listitem> + + <listitem> + <para>Grep</para> + + <para>This package contains programs for searching through files. + </para> + </listitem> + + <listitem> + <para>Groff</para> + + <para>This package contains programs for processing and formatting text. + One important function of these programs is to format man pages. + </para> + </listitem> + + <listitem> + <para>GRUB</para> + + <para>This package is the Grand Unified Boot Loader. It is one + of several boot loaders available, but is the most flexible. + </para> + </listitem> + + <listitem> + <para>Gzip</para> + + <para>This package contains programs for compressing and + decompressing files. </para> + </listitem> + + <listitem> + <para>Iana-etc</para> + + <para>This package provides data for network services and protocols. + It is needed to enable proper networking capabilities. + </para> + </listitem> + + <listitem> + <para>Inetutils</para> + + <para>This package contains programs for basic network + administration. + </para> + </listitem> + + <listitem> + <para>IProute2</para> + + <para>This package contains programs for basic and advanced IPv4 and + IPv6 networking. It was chosen over the other common network + tools package (net-tools) for its IPv6 capabilities. </para> + </listitem> + + <listitem> + <para>Kbd</para> + + <para>This package contains key-table files and keyboard utilities + for non-US keyboards. </para> + </listitem> + + <listitem> + <para>Less</para> + + <para>This package contains a very nice text file viewer that + allows scolling up or down when viewing a file. + </para> + </listitem> + + <listitem> + <para>Libtool</para> + + <para>This package contains the GNU generic library support + script. It wraps the complexity of using shared libraries in a + consistent, portable interface. It is needed by the test + suites in other LFS packages. + </para> + </listitem> + + <listitem> + <para>Linux Kernel</para> + + <para>This package is the Operating System. It is the Linux in + the GNU/Linux environment. + </para> + </listitem> + + <listitem> + <para>M4</para> + + <para>This package contains a general text macro processor useful + as a build tool for other programs. + </para> + </listitem> + + <listitem> + <para>Make</para> + + <para>This package contains a program for directing the building + of packages. It is required by almost every package in LFS. + </para> + </listitem> + + <listitem> + <para>Man-DB</para> + + <para>This package contains programs for finding and viewing man pages. + It was chosen instead of the <application>man</application> package + due to superior internationalization capabilities. It supplies + the man program. </para> + </listitem> + + <listitem> + <para>Man-pages</para> + + <para>This package contains the actual contents of the basic + Linux man pages. </para> + </listitem> + + <listitem> + <para>Module-Init-Tools</para> + + <para>This package contains programs needed to administer Linux + kernel modules.</para> + </listitem> + + <listitem> + <para>MPFR</para> + + <para>This package contains functions for multiple precision + arithmetic. It is required by Gcc. + </para> + </listitem> + + <listitem> + <para>Ncurses</para> + + <para>This package contains libraries for terminal-independent + handling of character screens. It is often used to provide + cursor control for a menuing system. </para> + </listitem> + + <listitem> + <para>Patch</para> + + <para>This package a program for modifying or creating files by + applying a <emphasis>patch</emphasis> file typically created + by the <application>diff</application> program. It is needed by + the build procedure for several LFS packages. </para> + </listitem> + + <listitem> + <para>Perl</para> + + <para>This package is an interpreter for the runtime language + PERL. </para> + </listitem> + + <listitem> + <para>Pkg-config</para> + + <para>This package contains a tool for passing the include path + and/or library paths to build tools during the configure and make + processes. It is needed by many LFS packages. </para> + </listitem> + + <listitem> + <para>Procps</para> + + <para>This package contains programs for monitoring processes. + </para> + </listitem> + + <listitem> + <para>Psmisc</para> + + <para>This package contains programs for displaying information + about running processes. </para> + </listitem> + + <listitem> + <para>Readline</para> + + <para>This package is a set of libraries that offers command-line + editing and history capabilities. It is used by Bash. </para> + </listitem> + + <listitem> + <para>Sed</para> + + <para>This package allows editing of text without opening it in a + text editor. It is also needed by most LFS packages' configure + scripts. </para> + </listitem> + + <listitem> + <para>Shadow</para> + + <para>This package contains programs for handling passwords + in a secure way.</para> + </listitem> + + <listitem> + <para>Sysklogd</para> + + <para>This package contains programs for logging system messages, + such as those given by the kernel or daemon processes when unusual + events occur. + </para> + </listitem> + + <listitem> + <para>Sysvinit</para> + + <para>This package provides the <application>init</application> + program which it the parent of all other processes on the Linux + system. </para> + </listitem> + + <listitem> + <para>Tar</para> + + <para>This package provides archiving and extraction capabilities + of virtually all packages used in LFS. </para> + </listitem> + + <listitem> + <para>Tcl</para> + + <para>This package contains the Tool Command Language used + in many testsuites in LFS packages. It is only installed in + the temporary toolchain. </para> + </listitem> + + <listitem> + <para>Texinfo</para> + + <para>This package contains programs for reading, writing, and + converting info pages. It is used in the installation + procedures of many LFS packages. </para> + </listitem> + + <listitem> + <para>Udev</para> + + <para>This package contains programs for dynamic creation of + device nodes. It is an alternative to creating thousands of + static devices in the /dev directory. + </para> + </listitem> + + <listitem> + <para>Util-linux-ng</para> + + <para>This package contains miscellaneous utility programs. + Among them are utilities for handling file systems, consoles, + partitions, and messages. </para> + </listitem> + + <listitem> + <para>Vim</para> + + <para>This package an editor. It was chosen because its compatibility + with the classic vi editor and its huge number of powerful + capabilities. An editor is a very personal choice for + many users and any other editor could be substituted if desired. + </para> + </listitem> + + <listitem> + <para>Zlib</para> + + <para>This package contains compression and decompression routines + used by some programs. + </para> + </listitem> + + </itemizedlist> + +</sect1> + |