From a26951eac51f6289d21236b0b5603059ba17585d Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Bruce Dubbs Date: Tue, 24 Nov 2009 21:50:43 +0000 Subject: 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 --- prologue/why.xml | 457 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 1 file changed, 457 insertions(+) create mode 100644 prologue/why.xml (limited to 'prologue/why.xml') 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 @@ + + + %general-entities; +]> + + + + + Rationale for Packages 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 in the 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 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. + + + + Binutils + + This package package contains a linker, an assembler, and other + tools for handling object files. + + + + 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. + + + + 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. + + + + 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. + + + + Findutils + + This package contains programs to find files in a file system. + + + + 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). + + + + Gcc + + This package is the Gnu Compiler Collection. It contains the + C and C++ compilers as well as several others not built by LFS. + + + + + GDBM + + This package contains the GNU Database Manager library. It + is used by one other LFS package, Man-DB. + + + + + 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. + + + + + 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. + + + + 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 is needed by the test + suites in other LFS packages. + + + + + Linux Kernel + + This package is the Operating System. It is the Linux in + the GNU/Linux environment. + + + + + M4 + + This package contains a general text macro processor useful + as a build tool for other programs. + + + + + 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. + + + + 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. + + + + 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. + + + + 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. + + + + + Psmisc + + This package contains programs for displaying information + about running processes. + + + + 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. + + + + Shadow + + This package contains programs for handling passwords + in a secure way. + + + + 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. + + + + 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. + + + + 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. + + + + + + + -- cgit v1.2.3-54-g00ecf