CRUX

This article is about the Linux distribution. For other uses, see Crux (disambiguation).
CRUX Linux

Screenshot KDE Desktop for Crux Linux OS.
Developer Per Lidén and CRUX Linux community
OS family Unix-like
Working state Active
Source model Open source
Initial release December 2002
Latest release 3.1 / July 16, 2014[1]
Update method ports
Package manager pkgutils[2]
Platforms x86-64
Kernel type Linux (Monolithic)
Userland GNU
Default user interface Openbox
License Various
Official website crux.nu

CRUX is a lightweight, x86-64-optimized Linux distribution targeted at experienced Linux users and delivered by a tar.xz-based package system with BSD-style initscripts. It also utilizes a ports system to install and upgrade applications.[3]

Although crux is the Latin word for "cross," the choice of the name "CRUX" itself has no meaning. Per Lidén chose it because it "sounded cool," and ends in "X" which makes it Unix/Linux-ish.[4]

Installation

CRUX does not include a GUI installation program. Instead, the user boots the kernel stored on either a CD or diskette; partitions the hard disk drive(s) to which the operating system will be installed (using a program such as fdisk or cfdisk); creates the appropriate file systems on the various partitions; mounts the CD or NFS share along with the partitions made previously for use by the package installation script; compiles a new kernel; and installs a bootloader, all via shell commands.[5][6]

Package management

CRUX implements an infrastructure similar to that of BSD-based operating systems for package management. Packages consist of a Pkgfile (which is a shell script), any patches required to adjust the program to work, md5sum hashes used to verify the integrity of the downloaded files and a footprint file listing the files to be included in the packages. These files are downloaded from a CRUX software repository, compiled, and installed using the prt-get frontend to pkgutils.[2] The software sources are downloaded from the websites of their respective upstream at the address specified in the Pkgfile.

Releases

x86 Release History
Version Date
1.0 2002 December
1.1 2003 March
1.2 2003 August
1.3 2003 December
1.3.1 2004 February
2.0 2004 March
2.1 2005 April
2.2 2006 April
2.3 2007 March
2.4 2007 December
2.5 2008 December
2.6 2009 September
2.7 2010 October
2.7.1 2011 November
2.8 2012 October
3.0 2013 January
3.1 2014 July

References

  1. ↑ HomePage, Crux.nu, retrieved January 19, 2013
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "The Package System", Handbook (Crux.nu), retrieved January 19, 2013
  3. ↑ HomePage, Crux.nu, retrieved January 19, 2013
  4. ↑ "6. Miscellaneous", FAQ (Crux.nu), July 22, 2008, retrieved March 26, 2012
  5. ↑ "Installing CRUX", Handbook (Crux.nu), retrieved March 26, 2012
  6. ↑ "NFSInstall", Wiki (Crux.nu), July 15, 2008, retrieved March 26, 2012

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to CRUX.