v1.0.0

GingerOS v1.0.0-stable

Release date: 2026-08-01
Codename: stable

GingerOS is a complete Linux distribution built from source following the
Linux From Scratch 13.0 (systemd edition) book, packaged as a bootable
installer ISO and verified to install and boot cleanly end-to-end.

Highlights

• From-scratch LFS 13.0 system — nothing copied from a host distro.
• Bootable installer ISO (gingeros-installer.iso) with a single static
  Go installer binary — no Python/runtime dependencies on the ISO or target.
• systemd-based runtime: networkd (DHCP), logind, journald, dbus all
  active on a fresh install.
• Zero-host-pollution build: all LFS work happens inside an isolated
  QEMU disk image; the host only needs QEMU, debootstrap, and Python/Go tools.
• Two control surfaces: Go HUD terminal client and React web dashboard
  (FastAPI backend on :8087).

Included software

Component	Version
LFS base	13.0 (systemd edition)
Linux kernel	6.18.10 (x86_64-lfs-linux-gnu)
glibc	2.43
GCC	15.2.0
Binutils	2.46.0
systemd	259
Init system	systemd (networkd / logind / journald / dbus)
Target	x86_64, merged-/usr layout

Installer (on the ISO)

The Go installer (lfs/iso/installer/main.go) performs 5 steps:

1. Partitioning — target wipe, GPT table, ext4 root partition.
2. Extract Filesystem — streaming extraction of the purged rootfs.
3. Hardware Sync — kernel install, merged-/usr symlinks, and rewriting
   /etc/fstab with the target's real root UUID.
4. User Setup — user account creation and password setup.
5. Bootloader — GRUB installation, hostname, and network config.

The installed system boots directly to a login prompt on both VGA and the
serial console (console=ttyS0).

Verification

Tested headlessly in QEMU/KVM on a fresh 20 GB disk:

• Full install completes (all 5 steps, exit 0).
• System boots to gingeros login: on ttyS0.
• ginger account logs in; root password works via su.
• systemctl is-system-running → running (not degraded).
• systemd-networkd active (running) with DHCP 10.0.2.15/24.
• systemd-logind and dbus active (running).
• eth0 UP, DHCP lease acquired.

Bug fixes in this release

• Installer fstab UUID: the installed /etc/fstab now uses the target
  partition's real UUID (was the build disk's UUID), fixing a first-boot
  systemd-remount-fs.service failure and degraded state.
• LFS systemd users/groups: full LFS 13.0 /etc/passwd + /etc/group
  entries added so systemd-network, systemd-resolve, systemd-logind,
  etc. start correctly.
• LFS libraries misplaced in /usr/lib64: kmod/udev/systemd/dbus meson
  builds now use -D libdir=/usr/lib, so libs are loadable at runtime and
  dbus builds with systemd support (no more "compiled without systemd support").
• Rootfs purge over-filtering: purge-rootfs.py now preserves the genuine
  LFS dbus systemd units (KEEP_EXACT) while still stripping Ubuntu/build-tree
  contamination.
• Installer merged-/usr symlinks: relative symlink targets prevent any
  later host traversal (chroot, os.RemoveAll, ldconfig) from escaping into
  the live initrd root.
• Serial console enabled in the installed GRUB config for headless
  install/boot testing.

Known limitations

• Installer targets BIOS/legacy boot on a single ext4 root partition; UEFI is
  not yet supported.
• Parallel Phase 3 builds are experimental (PARALLEL_PHASE3 in ginger.conf).
• The build host must be Ubuntu 24.04 (or a compatible distro with
  debootstrap).

Build from source

# 1. Build the LFS system (13 steps) via the orchestrator
./run.sh

# 2. Produce the ISO
./make-iso.sh

# 3. Test install
./test-installer.sh
./test-boot.sh

See docs/WORKFLOW.md for the full workflow and
README.md for architecture.

What's Changed

• Ginger OS v1.0.0-stable by @codewithwest in #3

Full Changelog: 1.0.0-beta...v1.0.0