lfs/chapter05/introduction.xml

<sect1 id="ch05-introduction">
<title>Introduction</title>
<?dbhtml filename="introduction.html" dir="chapter05"?>

<para>In this chapter we will compile and install a minimal
Linux system. This system will contain just enough tools to be able
to start constructing the final LFS system in the next chapter.</para>

<para>The files compiled in this chapter will be installed under the
<filename class="directory">$LFS/static</filename> directory,
to keep them separate from the files installed in the next chapter.
Since the packages compiled here are merely temporary, we don't want
them to pollute the soon-to-be LFS system.</para>

<para>The key to learning what makes a Linux system work is to know
exactly what each package is used for, and why the user or the system
needs it. For this purpose a short description of the content of each
package is given right after the installation instructions.</para>

<para>Several of the packages are patched before compilation, but only when
the patch is needed to circumvent a problem. Often the patch is needed in
both this and the next chapter, but sometimes in only one of them. So, don't
worry when instructions for a downloaded patch seem to be missing.</para>

<para>During the installation of most packages you will
see all kinds of compiler warnings scroll by on your screen. These are
normal and can be safely ignored. They are just what they say they are:
warnings -- mostly about improper, but not illegal, use of the C or C++
syntax. It's just that C standards have changed rather often and some
packages still use the older standard, which is not really a problem.</para>

<para>Before continuing, make sure the LFS environment variable is set up
properly (if you decided to make use of it) by executing the following:</para>

<para><screen><userinput>echo $LFS</userinput></screen></para>

<para>Make sure the output shows the path to your LFS partition's mount
point, which is <filename class="directory">/mnt/lfs</filename> if you
followed our example.</para>

</sect1>