How To Build a Minimal Linux System from Source Code: More Information

13. More Information

If you have a command called thingy on a Linux system with RPM, and want a clue about where to get the source from, you can use the command:

        rpm -qif `which thingy`

And if you have a Red Hat source CD, you can install the source code using

        rpm -i /mnt/cdrom/SRPMS/what.it.just.said-1.2.srpm

This will put the tarball, and any Red Hat patches into /usr/src/redhat/SOURCES.

There is a mini-howto on building software from source, the Software Building mini-HOWTO.
There is also a HOWTO on building a Linux system from scratch. It focuses much more on getting the system built so it can be used, rather than just doing it as a learning exercise. The Linux From Scratch HOWTO
Unix File System Standard Another link to the Unix File System Standard. This describes what should go where in a Unix file system, and why. It also has minimum requirements for the contents of /bin, /sbin and so on. This is a good reference if your goal is to make a minimal yet complete system.