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Cross-build Debian Installer
Mentor: DebianInstaller, EmDebian, avtobiff?
Summary: Add support for cross-building to the Debian installer build process
Required skills:
Familiarity or interest in learning how DebianInstaller works
- C programming
- Shell script
- Familiarity with cross-building and cross-compiling
Description:
- The build process for Debian installer currently does not support cross-building, it has to be built natively. For instance building an ARM version of Debian installer has to be done on an actual ARM machine, which takes quite a while. Adding cross-building support could possibly improve the developer experience. Another advantage is build custom Debian installer images for an embedded system, a lot faster, on a desktop machine
As a starting point, students might wish to look at the current Debian installer source and build process. Emdebian can be interesting to have a look at for cross building.
WARN: This idea needs to be extended and point out what cross compiling debian-installer implies (library reduction can be an issue).
debootstrap supports cross-building, but the second stage still needs to be run on the target architecture or by emulation (qemu).
Comment: Would it be better to write our own cross-installer (debootstrap based) or hack on d-i complexity for a great? achievement
Please contact us on debian{-embedded,-boot}@lists.debian.org before applying.
Proposals
* SummerOfCode2010/CrossbuildDebianInstaller/arvindkhadri * SummerOfCode2010/CrossbuildDebianInstaller/jishnu