Distribution kit
A distribution kit is the name of an operating system that is designed to change its properties and capabilities so decisively by exchanging modules or other code modifications that a family of distributions can emerge from it. The name Distribution Built Kit became known through Linux From Scratch , which was originally just a guide to assembling a GNU / Linux operating system that included the necessary software.
Operating system kits in computer science
The idea of assembling operating systems from existing elements or making their modules combinable for different applications has been discussed at least since the 1970s.
It is characteristic of an operating system kit that its individual software modules can be combined with one another and reused through compatible interfaces. Operating system families arise from the different combinations of the modules. In the families, the hierarchy of the modules remains largely the same, and the functionality of existing modules is used as far as possible before new functionalities are incorporated.
In practice, different systems are conceptually referred to as modular operating systems. Examples:
- PURE - in development at the University of Magdeburg
The architecture of an operating system is often represented in a scheme of layered building blocks. The term “operating system kit” is not common for this.
Distribution kits
Due to the open source code, GNU operating systems such as GNU / Linux are particularly suitable for being produced by users and tailored by them to their purposes. In this original sense, instructions for assembling a GNU / Linux operating system will continue to be referred to as a distribution kit.
The more recent meaning of the term, however, mainly refers to GNU / Linux or other distributions of free operating systems, which, analogous to the above-mentioned model of computer science, have special properties in order to form distribution families from a basic distribution.
- A distribution that is particularly modular and based on a 10 MB small base with a package manager is Tiny Core Linux
- Other modular distribution kits are the following Debian Linux systems: Morphix , Knoppix , Dreamlinux
They specialize in combining new software modules, sometimes even with modules from other Debian distributions, to put together a distribution tailored to the needs of the user. Distribution-specific tools such as MKDistro at Dreamlinux are provided for this, but software such as Ibuild and Intellibuild are also used for support. The final product can be distributed and used as a LiveCD.
- A distribution kit particularly suitable for assembling embedded systems : T2 SDE
A T2 SDE product is Puppy Linux . In principle, T2 SDE is well suited for installing other kernels; it does not always have to be Linux
- A distribution kit that forms distribution families in a different way: Gentoo Linux
Exherbo also works with similar tools .
literature
- DL Parnas: On the Design and Development of Program Families. IEEE Transactions of Software Engineering 2 (1976) 1-9
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ Pure ( Memento of the original from April 27, 2007 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. - Project page at the Faculty of Computer Science at the University of Magdeburg ; As of March 14, 2001
- ↑ Diploma thesis - page at the Faculty of Computer Science at the University of Magdeburg ; Status: January 7, 2000
- ↑ Exherbo. Retrieved April 19, 2012 .
