A custom installer - was [Installing the installer]

From	Richard Owlett <rowlett@cloud85.net>
Newsgroups	linux.debian.user
Subject	A custom installer - was [Installing the installer]
Date	2017-09-23 17:50 +0200
Message-ID	<usUQN-4T0-5@gated-at.bofh.it> (permalink)
References	<upCGJ-5GI-7@gated-at.bofh.it> <upDMv-6ln-45@gated-at.bofh.it> <urrea-69k-13@gated-at.bofh.it>
Organization	linux.* mail to news gateway

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On 09/19/2017 08:56 AM, Richard Owlett wrote:
> On 09/14/2017 09:51 AM, Thomas Schmitt wrote:
>>
>> Richard Owlett wrote:
>>> I wish to "install" to an arbitrary ext2/ext4 partition in such
>>> a manner
>>> that:
>>>   1. Grub2 will recognize it as a legit OS.
>>
>> Why not install - without quotes - Debian to as few partitions
>> as possible ?

My goal is NOT a "general purpose GNU/Linux".
My goal IS a "thingy/dodad/whatsit" which can perform a single task.
That task would be indistinguishable, to a human at a terminal, from a 
standard installer residing on a CD/DVD. It will install Debian to 
another location, be it device or partition.

Evidently something similar to my goals existed in the early work on 
what became the current installer. Searching for pages describing how 
the boot process worked I found several pages by Joey Hess. Initially I 
found "os-prober" <https://joeyh.name/code/os-prober/> and later
"Joey Hess" <http://joeyh.name/> -> <http://joeyh.name/code/> {the links 
under "Past projects"}

There are also useful links in the Debian Wiki, including:
BootProcess
	<https://wiki.debian.org/BootProcess>
CategoryBootProcess
	<https://wiki.debian.org/CategoryBootProcess>
SystemBootProcess
	<https://wiki.debian.org/SystemBootProcess>
Title Search: "boot process"
	<https://wiki.debian.org/DebianDesktop?action=fullsearch&context=180&value=boot+process&titlesearch=Titles>

I currently have about two dozen links a single reference whose target 
audience was people with goals/questions similar to mine.

At least I now know what I want is possible.

Thread

Installing the installer Richard Owlett <rowlett@cloud85.net> - 2017-09-14 15:50 +0200
  Re: Installing the installer "Thomas Schmitt" <scdbackup@gmx.net> - 2017-09-14 17:00 +0200
    Re: Installing the installer Richard Owlett <rowlett@cloud85.net> - 2017-09-19 16:00 +0200
      Re: Installing the installer "Thomas Schmitt" <scdbackup@gmx.net> - 2017-09-19 17:20 +0200
        Re: Installing the installer Fungi4All <fungilife@protonmail.com> - 2017-09-19 21:10 +0200
          Re: Installing the installer "Thomas Schmitt" <scdbackup@gmx.net> - 2017-09-19 22:20 +0200
      A custom installer - was [Installing the installer] Richard Owlett <rowlett@cloud85.net> - 2017-09-23 17:50 +0200
        Re: A custom installer - was [Installing the installer] Richard Owlett <rowlett@cloud85.net> - 2017-09-24 15:50 +0200
  Re: Installing the installer Kushal Kumaran <kushal@locationd.net> - 2017-09-15 05:10 +0200
  Towards a customized netinst {a rephrasing of "Installing the  installer"} Richard Owlett <rowlett@cloud85.net> - 2017-09-21 15:10 +0200
    Re: Towards a customized netinst "Thomas Schmitt" <scdbackup@gmx.net> - 2017-09-21 16:50 +0200
      Re: Towards a customized netinst Richard Owlett <rowlett@cloud85.net> - 2017-09-22 16:10 +0200

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