10 scripts to create your own Linux distribution

Those familiar with Linux will be able to tweak settings, add and remove apps and customise the menu, toolbars and other desktop elements.

Incredibly, those are about all the skills you need to create your very own Linux distro.

We're going to take a look at some scripts that'll help you customise different distros.

1. Remastersys

This tool has a newbie-proof GUI and works on both Ubuntu and Debian distros and any of their derivatives.

Remastersys works by transferring the distro you're running into an ISO image. You can choose to include your settings and personal data too, which makes it ideal for backups.

2. UCK

The Ubuntu Customisation Kit – which is tastefully shortened to UCK – works with the ISO of any of the four Ubuntu flavours (the GNOME based original Ubuntu, KDE-based Kubuntu, Xfce-based Xubuntu and education-targeted Edubuntu) and lets you add or remove any apps to the stock.

This tool is ideal for advanced users because during the customisation process it places you in a chrooted environment of the Live CD, enabling you to tweak any aspect of the distro.

3. Reconstructor

As the name suggests, this tool is a comprehensive suite for creating your own custom Ubuntu and Debian distros from an existing ISO image. It lets you tweak the wallpaper, themes, icons, applications, and more.

The browser-based tool requires no installation, but you'll need to pay a small fee before you can use all of its features.

4. Revisor

Unlike the three tools above, this app is for the RPM-based distro Fedora. Revisor has both a GUI and a command-line interface, and it can create USB Live media as well as install-only CDs and DVDs.

Instead of using ISO images, Revisor downloads packages from the internet, so it may take some time to compile depending on your connection speed and customised package selection.

5. SUSE Studio

Novell's SUSE Studio is taking the world by storm. It lets you select packages, set various configurations (including network detection, firewall settings and so on) and select a logo, background and more.

 

The most impressive part is that all this functionality is accessed from within a browser. You can even test-drive your new distro – again from within the browser – before downloading the ISO image to share with the world.

6. Pungi

This is the tool that the Fedora developers use to spin the official releases. It's a command-line tool written in Python.

Like Revisor, the tool gathers packages directly from the internet and then automatically splits them and creates CD-sized installable ISO images.

7. Builder

Builder is a series of bash scripts that are used by the gNewSense developers to create their distro. Along with the tool they've also written a handy nine-step guide to creating a customised distro from Ubuntu Hardy. The guide is available on their site.

8. Linux-Live

If you want a truly distro-agnostic way of customising your favourite Linux distribution, you need the Linux-Live set of scripts. The scripts work on any installed Linux distro and can create a Live system that you can boot from optical media or USB drives.

The popular Slackware -based Slax Live distro is built using these scripts, which work best on Slackware but can work on other distributions as well.

9. MySlax Creator

Here's a Slackware customisation script with a unique twist. The tool creates customised versions of the Slackware-based Slax distro we mentioned above, but unlike the other tools we talk about here, MySlax Creator installs and work from within Windows!

It works with Slax ISO images and lets you add data to your own custom spins.

10. Linux From Scratch

If you're a Linux purist then you'll probably find the idea of using scripts and automated systems to create a distro quite abhorrent. Well, fear not. If you're keen to get your hands dirty, you'll need the definitive tome Linux From Scratch, a book that explains how to make your own Linux distro the very hardest way.