initial documentation

README.md

@@ -1,2 +1,14 @@
-# lfs-rpmify
+Building RPM in LFS 12.2
-Dependencies needed to build RPM on an LFS system
+========================
+
+This git is for the scripts needed to build the dependencies for the RPM Package
+Manager (RPM) within a LFS 12.2 system. This is ‘Phase Three’ in `THE-PLAN.md`.
+
+Dependency One: UnZip
+---------------------
+
+Justification: Needed to build SQLite 3 (to unpack the documentation). No build
+dependencies outside of LFS.
+
+Script: [`01-unzip.sh`](01-unzip.sh)
+Status: Script Untested

THE-PLAN.md

@@ -0,0 +1,109 @@
+The Plan
+========
+
+This is an attempt to create a new GNU/Linux distribution. The why is in the
+file `THE_WHY.md` but TLDR, because I can. Well, because I think I can. Maybe,
+and even if not, I will still learn a lot...
+
+The new distribution will be called ‘Yellow-Jacket GNU/Linux’ (abbreviated as
+‘YJL’) and will be heavily based upon ‘Linux From Scratch’ (LFS) but will have
+many influences from my years with Red Hat Linux, including use of RPM as the
+package manager.
+
+
+Phase One: LFS Bootstrap
+------------------------
+
+Create the needed shell scripts to build the current SystemD LFS (12.2 as I
+type) on a USB thumb drive that can then boot an `x86_64` system and rebuild
+itself to the hard drive of that system. Long term goal is a generic image that
+can be copied onto any thumb drive via `dd`, boot a generic `x86_64` system, and
+build LFS on it. Short term goal is specific to my system.
+
+For the git related to Phase One, see
+https://github.com/YellowJacketLinux/lfs-buildscripts/tree/main
+
+
+Phase Two: GCC Bootstrap
+------------------------
+
+The GCC built by LFS does not support building the Ada or D compilers. Both of
+those compilers are useful on a GNU/Linux system.
+
+Once I have a hard-disk install booting, the very first order of business is to
+rebuild GCC for full compiler support.
+
+To compile GCC with Ada and D support, a working Ada and D compiler is needed.
+
+My LFS 11.3 system has those. What I did back then, on CentOS 7.9 (my build host
+for LFS 11.3) I built GCC 7.5.0 with Ada (`gnat`) support, with an install
+prefix of `/opt/gcc750`. GCC 7.5.0 was the newest GCC I could get to build in
+CentOS 7.9 with Ada.
+
+I had to copy a few shared libraries from the CentOS 7 system into
+`/opt/gcc750/lib` but once I did that, I was able to use that GCC in LFS 11.3 to
+then build an Ada and D capable GCC 10.4.0 within `/opt/gcc1040`, GCC 7.5.0
+would not succesfully build an Ada and D capable GCC 12.2.0.
+
+However I was then able to use GCC 10.4.0 to build the Ada and D capable GCC
+12.2.0 which is the GCC version in LFS 11.3.
+
+For the LFS 12.2 GCC bootstrap, I *suspect* I can use the Ada and D capable GCC
+GCC 12.2.0 in LFS 11.3 to build an Ada and D capable GCC 14.2.0 installed in
+`/opt/gcc1420` that I can then use in LFS 12.2 to bootstrap the system GCC, of
+course running the full test suite before installing.
+
+I tried adding Ada and D support to the GCC building of LFS 12.2 Chapter 5 and
+it caused a build failure, so it is *possible* I will need another intemediary.
+
+Anyway, boostrapping an Ada and D capable GCC within LFS 12.2 will be my first
+priority once it is booting.
+
+
+Phase Three: Building RPM
+--------------------------
+
+This phase is what the git is about.
+
+The needed libraries to build RPM will need to be built and installed, and then
+RPM will be built and installed.
+
+
+Phase Four: RPM Bootstrap
+-------------------------
+
+Once RPM is built and installed comes the long and tedious task of writing the
+needed RPM spec files to rebuild every package on the system in RPM. Much of
+that work has already been done from my LFS 11.3 system but the spec files need
+to be updated and some still needed to be written when the water pipe broke.
+
+
+Phase Five: Mock Build Environment
+----------------------------------
+
+After the system is RPM bootstrapped, I have to build and configure a Mock build
+environment for packages, see https://rpm-software-management.github.io/mock/
+
+A Mock build build environment is essential for clean, untainted packages. I
+have used Mock build environments in the past but creating one from scratch for
+a new distribution is something I have not done.
+
+
+Phase Six: XFCE
+---------------
+
+Once the system is RPM bootstrapped, I can start building the software needed
+for the XFCE desktop environment.
+
+My *personal* preferred desktop environment is actually MATE but XFCE is what I
+am building as the default desktop environment for YJL.
+
+
+Phase Seven: Installer
+----------------------
+
+With XFCE running, a bootable USB thumb drive that can install the system from
+RPM packages will have the be created. That will be when YJL becomes a reality
+and not just a concept I am working towards.
+
+