install-stage1.sh

@@ -233,7 +233,6 @@ echo "# See fstab(5).
 UUID=$(blkid --output value --match-tag UUID $TARGET_PART_BOOT) /boot f2fs defaults,nodev,nosuid 0 2
 UUID=$(blkid --output value --match-tag UUID $TARGET_PART_EFI) /boot/efi vfat defaults,fmask=0077,dmask=0077 0 2
 /run/void-usb/container/home /home none bind 0 0
-tmpfs /tmp tmpfs size=512m 0 0
 " > /mnt/target/etc/fstab
 
 if grep "#KEYMAP=" /mnt/target/etc/rc.conf; then

notes_to_self.txt

@@ -2,18 +2,22 @@ TODO:
 compare sizes of glibc and musl installations
 try running multiple MC versions on musl (incl ThatModPack)
 need xdg menu maker?
+check if there are problems with GRUB’s --disk-module=native on real USB drives on real hardware
 test that the (RAM) boot option allows you to install to the stick the system booted off
 adjust required USB stick and RAM size in README
+test kernel hooks and grub-config with all sorts of weird kernel/initramfs setups
+  - all names
+  - various compressions
 do not rely on the RTC
   - change the message when configuring UTC/localtime to reflect that this is only for offline usage
   - use ntp to get time
     - only fall back to using rtc if offline
   - do not set the RTC
 move /boot to /run/void-usb/container instead of its own partition
-show user-friendly status instead of scrolling output from all sorts of tools
-shutdown squashfs updater can’t get user input!?
-make our own or extract (if feasible) kb selection and time zone selection to hijack them for our purposes
-fix EFI boot
+look into UEFI specs and general availability of FAT16 support
+  - if possible, shrink ESP and move GRUB to /run/void-usb/container
+add manufacturer where users select the target device
+show user-firently status instead of scrolling output from all sorts of tools
 
 musl downsides:
   - no nvidia drivers
@@ -22,20 +26,53 @@ musl upsides:
   - ??
 
 
-Stage 1:
+ideas:
+use shell script for init, call real init via exec
+system lives on squashfs
+  -> overlayfs with tmpfs set up at boot
+  -> new system image generated and written back on shutdown
+    -> user-selectable ("Do you want to save changes to the system? This will take some time.")
+    -> fstrim (if applicable)
+swap on zram
+f2fs for home
+
+boot setup + dracut configuration
+  - root=/dev/loop0 ro
+  - custom dracut module
+    - pre-mount script
+      - mount /run/void-usb/container by UUID (passed from a kernel command line parameter)
+      - losetup the squashfs img
+    - pre-pivot script?
+      - do we need one to move over the /run/void-usb/container mount to real root?
+  - overlayfs gets mounted from fstab
+
+when backing up
+- do not cross file system boundaries
+- exclude /tmp, package cache, logs
+- possibly only save the changes in separate squashfs images
+  - either until it takes up too much space or until a certain number of images exist
+  - consolidate when the user requests it or when exceeding the limit
+
+Steps to install:
+  - make our own or extract (if feasible) kb selection and time zone selection to hijack them for our purposes
   - select kb layout
   - install base system
     -> select installation type (x86_32/x86_64/aarch64, glibc/musl)
       -> if musl, add that bit to repo url
+    -> configure overlayfs setup
+      -> startup script
+      -> shutdown squashfs updater
+        -> rc.shutdown?
     -> configure time zone
       -> selection dialog?
       -> symlink /etc/localtime
+    -> set up an initramfs to mount the squashfs/overlayfs at boot time
     -> prepare 2nd stage installation
-      -> auto login root and put stage 2 script in .bashrc
+      -> auto login root and put script in .bashrc
+        -> better method?
     -> build squashfs
   - prompt user to reboot to finish installation
-
-Stage 2:
+  - second stage installation
     -> configure services
       -> dbus
       -> NetworkManager