From 27a023ce780c9c4337ca34ff768c457ad1316d38 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Bruce Dubbs Date: Mon, 23 Nov 2009 08:36:36 +0000 Subject: Added a page describing the Linux standards LFS uses to guide its procedures. Included a sub-section on why each package is in the book. git-svn-id: http://svn.linuxfromscratch.org/LFS/trunk/BOOK@9116 4aa44e1e-78dd-0310-a6d2-fbcd4c07a689 --- prologue/standards.xml | 521 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 1 file changed, 521 insertions(+) create mode 100644 prologue/standards.xml (limited to 'prologue/standards.xml') diff --git a/prologue/standards.xml b/prologue/standards.xml new file mode 100644 index 000000000..0a54405da --- /dev/null +++ b/prologue/standards.xml @@ -0,0 +1,521 @@ + + + %general-entities; +]> + + + + + LFS and Standards + + + + + <para>The structure of LFS follows Linux standards as closely as + possible. The primary standards are:</para> + + <itemizedlist> + <listitem> + <para><ulink url="http://www.unix.org/single_unix_specification">The + Single UNIX Specification Version 3 (POSIX)</ulink>. Note: + Free registratration is required.</para> + </listitem> + <listitem> + <para><ulink url="http://www.pathname.com/fhs/pub/fhs-2.3.html">Filesystem + Hierarcy Standard (FHS)</ulink></para> + + </listitem> + <listitem> + <para><ulink url="http://refspecs.freestandards.org/LSB_4.0.0/">Linux + Standard Base (LSB) Core Specification 4.0</ulink></para> + + <para>The LSB has five separate standards: Core, C++, Desktop, + Runtime Languages, and Printing. In addition to generic requirements + there are also architecture specific requirements. LFS attempts to + conform to the architectures discussed in the previous section.</para> + + <note><para>Many people do not agree with the requirements of LSB. The + main purpose of defining it is to ensure that proprietary software will + be able to be installed and run properly on a compliant system. Since LFS + is source based, the user has complete control over what packages are + desired and many choose not to install some packages that are specified + by the LSB. </para></note> + + </listitem> + </itemizedlist> + + <para>Creating a complete LFS system capable of passing the LSB + certifications tests is possible, but not without many additional ipackages + that are beyond the scope of LFS. Most of these additional packages have + intallation instructions in BLFS. </para> + + </sect2> + + <sect2> + <title>Why is each package in the book? + + 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 int he book. + + + + + + Autoconf + + 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. + + + + Automake + + 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. + + + + Bash + + This package satifies an LSB core requirement to provide + a Bourne Shell interface to the system. It was chosen over + other shell packages bacause of its common usage and extensive + capabilities beyond basic shell functions. + + + + Binutils + + This package package contains a linker, an assembler, and other + tools for handling object files. It contains programs required by + LSB core. + + + + + Bison + + This package contains the GNU version of yacc (Yet Another + Compiler Compiler) needed to build several other LFS programs. + + + + + Bzip2 + + This package contains programs for compressing and decompressing + files. It is required to decompress many LFS packages. + + + + Coreutils + + This package contains a number of essential programs for viewing + and manipulating files and directories. It also contains programs + required by LSB core. + + + + + DejaGNU + + This package contains a framework for testing other programs. + It is only installed in the temporary toolchain. + + + + Diffutils + + This package contains programs that show the differences + between files or directories. It contains programs required by + LSB core. + + + + Expect + + 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. + + + + E2fsprogs + + 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. + + + + File + + This package contains a utility for determining the type of a + given file or files. It is required by LSB core. + + + + Findutils + + This package contains programs to find files in a file system. + They are required by LSB core. + + + + Flex + + 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. + + + + Gawk + + This package contains programs for manipulating text files. + It is the GNU version of awk (Aho-Weinberg-Kernighan) that + is required by LSB core. + + + + Gcc + + This package is the Gnu Compiler Collection. It contains the + C and C++ compilers as well as several others not built by LFS. It + also contins the standard C++ libraries required by the LSB + C++ standard. + + + + GDBM + + This package contains the GNU Database Manager library. It + is used by one other LFS packages. + + + + + Gettext + + This package contains utilities and libraries for + internationalization and localization of numerous packages. + + + + + Glibc + + This package contains the main C library. Linux programs would + not run without it. + + + + GMP + + This package package contains math libraries and have + useful functions for arbitrary precision arithmetic. It + is required to build Gcc. + + + + Grep + + This package contains programs for searching through files. + It is required by LSB core. + + + + Groff + + This package contains programs for processing and formatting text. + One important function of these programs is to format man pages. + + + + + GRUB + + This package is the Grand Unified Boot Loader. It is one + of several boot loaders available, but is the most flexible. + + + + + Gzip + + This package contains programs for compressing and + decompressing files. It is required by LSB core. + + + + + Iana-etc + + This package provides data for network services and protocols. + It is needed to enable proper networking capabilities. + + + + + Inetutils + + This package contains programs for basic network + administration. + + + + + IProute2 + + 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. + + + + Kbd + + This package contains key-table files and keyboard utilities + for non-US keyboards. + + + + Less + + This package contains a very nice text file viewer that + allows scolling up or down when viewing a file. + + + + + Libtool + + This package contains the GNU generic library support + script. It wraps the complexity of using shared libraries in a + consistent, portable interface. It us needed by the test + suites in other LFS packages. + + + + + Linux Kernel + + This package is the Operating Ststem. It is the Linux in + the GNU/Linux environment. + + + + + M4 + + This package contains a general text macro processor. It is + required by LSB core. + + + + + Make + + This package contains a program for directing the building + of packages. It is required by almost every package in LFS. + + + + + Man-DB + + This package contains programs for finding and viewing man pages. + It was chosen instead of the man package + due to superior internationalization capabilities. It supplies + the man program required by LSB core. + + + + Man-pages + + This package contains the actual contents of the basic + Linux man pages. + + + + Module-Init-Tools + + This package contains programs needed to administer Linux + kernel modules. + + + + MPFR + + This package contains functions for multiple precision + arithmetic. It is required by Gcc. + + + + + Ncurses + + This package contains libraries for terminal-independent + handling of character screens. It is often used to provide + cursor control for a menuing system. It provides libraries required + by LSB core. + + + + Patch + + This package a program for modifying or creating files by + applying a patch file typically created + by the diff program. It is needed by + the build procedure for several LFS packages. + + + + Perl + + This package is an interpreter for the runtime language + PERL. It is required by the LSB Runtime Languages standard. + + + + + Pkg-config + + 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. + + + + Procps + + This package contains programs for monitoring processes. + It contains programs required by LSB core. + + + + Psmisc + + This package contains programs for displaying information + about running processes. It contains programs required by LSB + core. + + + + Readline + + This package is a set of libraries that offers command-line + editing and history capabilities. It is used by Bash. + + + + Sed + + This package allows editing of text without opening it in a + text editor. It is also needed by most LFS packages' configure + scripts. It is required by LSB core. + + + + Shadow + + This package contains programs for handling passwords + in a secure way. It provides programs required by LSB core. + + + + + Sysklogd + + This package contains programs for logging system messages, + such as those given by the kernel or daemon processes when unusual + events occur. + + + + + Sysvinit + + This package provides the init + program which it the parent of all other processes on the Linux + system. + + + + Tar + + This package provides archiving and extraction capabilities + of virtually all packages used in LFS. It is required by + LSB core. + + + + Tcl + + This package contains the Tool Command Language used + in many testsuites in LFS packages. It is only installed in + the temporary toolchain. + + + + Texinfo + + This package contains programs for reading, writing, and + converting info pages. It is used in the installation + procedures of many LFS packages. + + + + Udev + + This package contains programs for dynamic creation of + device nodes. It is an alternative to creating thousands of + static devices in the /dev directory. + + + + + Util-linux-ng + + This package contains miscellaneous utility programs. + Among them are utilities for handling file systems, consoles, + partitions, and messages. It contains programs required by + LSB core. + + + + Vim + + 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. + + + + + Zlib + + This package contains compression and decompression routines + used by some programs. It is required by LSB core. + + + + + + + + + -- cgit v1.2.3-54-g00ecf