[RESOLVED] How to make a linux thing.

Hey guys, I'm wondering about trying to make an operating system in soem spare time, and I hear linux is open source. But what do I need to start up in making a distro of that and what are the laws on it? Would I own a distro I made?

And where do I get source code to get cracking on a distro?


Thanks.

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Originally Posted by Justin M

Hey guys, I'm wondering about trying to make an operating system in soem spare time, and I hear linux is open source. But what do I need to start up in making a distro of that and what are the laws on it? Would I own a distro I made?

And where do I get source code to get cracking on a distro?


Thanks.

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The linux kernel is distributed under the GPL. The GPL states that the source code is provided free of charge to you and that you can make any changes you wish to it and distribute it.

The catch is that you are bound to the terms of the GPL as well; your derivative work must make the source code available free of charge.

The linux kernel is available at http://kernel.org/ or through any distribution's package system, but I can't give you any more advice on how to get started rolling your own; I would say that it's probably a pretty big task.

You might want to take a look at linux from scratch

thanks guys!

Oh Umm I should have asked earlier, but what compiler would I need to write code? OR do I need one?

Also would I need a spare comp to develop it? OR can I use viritual PC?

Lets be honest, if you don't even know that, then you've not got a hope in hell of managing to create an operating system or even something as simple as a custom distro.

Start smaller and learn to write linux console programs using the gcc compiler.