CLFS includes many packages, a number of which might not necessarily be required for a "minimal" system, but still considered very useful. The purpose of this page is to list the reasoning for each package's inclusion in the book.
Autoconf
The Autoconf package contains programs for producing shell scripts that can automatically configure source code. This is useful for software developers, as well as anyone who wants to install packages that don't come with a configure script, such as some of the packages in CBLFS.
Automake
The Automake package contains programs for generating Makefiles for use with Autoconf. This can be useful to software developers.
Bash
This package contains the Bourne-Again SHell. A shell is an important component of a Linux system, as there must be some way of allowing the users to enter commands.
Bc
This package contains a precision calculator. The Linux kernel uses Bc to render the timeconst header.
Binutils
This package contains programs for handling object files. The programs in this package are needed for compiling most of the packages in CLFS.
Bison
This package contains programs that are required by several packages in CLFS.
Bzip2
The programs in this package are useful for compressing files to reduce size. They are also needed to uncompress tarballs for many CLFS packages.
CLFS-Bootscripts
This package contains a number of scripts that run at boottime, performing essential tasks such as mounting/checking filesystems and starting the network interface.
Check
This package contains a test harness for other programs. It is used for some packages' test suites.
CLooG
This package is used by GCC to enable its Graphite loop generation code.
Coreutils
This package contains many basic command-line file-management tools, required for installation of every package in CLFS.
DejaGNU
This package is needed for the test suites of several packages, especially GCC and Binutils.
DHCPCD
This package allows for automatic configuration of network interfaces from a DHCP server. It (or some other package providing a DHCP client is needed to connect to a DHCP server.
Diffutils
This package contains programs to compare files, and can also be used to create patches. It is required by the installation procedures of many CLFS packages, and used by many packages' test suites.
Eudev
This is a package that allows for dynamic creation of device nodes. It is a fork of Udev, which is now part of Systemd. It is still used for the "Boot" method in the temp-system, as Systemd is not needed there.
Expect
This package is needed for the test suites for several packages.
E2fsprogs
The programs in this package are used for the creation and maintenance of ext2/3/4 filesystems.
File
This package contains a program that determines the type of a given file. It is needed by some CLFS packages.
Findutils
This package contains programs for finding files based on certain criteria, and optionally performing commands on them. These programs are used by the installation procedures of many CLFS packages.
Flex
This package contains a tool for generating text scanners. It is used by multiple packages in CLFS
Gawk
This package contains programs for manipulating text files, using the AWK language. It is used by the installation procedures of many packages in CLFS.
Gcc
This package contains a C compiler, which is required to compile most of the packages in CLFS.
GDBM
This package contains the GNU Database Manager library. Man-DB requires either GDBM or Berkeley DB, though it prefers GDBM.
Gettext
A tool that allows programmers to easily implement i18n (internationalization) in their programs. It is a required dependency for a number of packages
Glibc
Any dynamically-linked C program (nearly every package in CLFS has these) needs a C library to compile and run.
GMP
This package is required by GCC.
Grep
This package contains programs for searching for text in files. These programs are required by many packages in CLFS.
Groff
This package is required by Man-DB.
Gzip
Useful for compressing files to reduce size. It is also needed to uncompress tarballs for many CLFS packages
Iana-Etc
This package provides the /etc/services and /etc/protocols files. These files map port
names to port numbers as well as protocol names to their
corresponding numbers. These files are essential for many
network based programs to work properly.
IProute2
This package contains programs for administering network interfaces.
IPutils
This package contains several basic network-management tools.
ISL
This package is required by CLooG.
Kbd
Contains keytable files and keyboard utilities compatible with the Linux kernel. These can be used to change the display font and keyboard layout.
Kmod
This package contains programs that assist in loading an unloading kernel modules.
Less
A program that lets you view text files one page at a time. It is also used by Man-DB for displaying manpages.
Libee
This library is required by Rsyslog.
Libestr
This library is required by Rsyslog.
Libpipeline
The Libpipeline package contains a library for manipulating pipelines of subprocesses in a flexible and convenient way. It is required by the Man-DB package.
Libtool
The Libtool package contains the GNU generic library support script. It is used by some CLFS packages.
Linux Headers
This package consists of santized headers from the Linux Kernel. These headers are required for Glibc to compile.
Linux Kernel
The Linux operating system.
M4
This package contains a macro processor. It is required by several CLFS packages, including Bison.
Make
This is required for installation of most CLFS packages
Man-DB
This package contains programs for finding and viewing man pages, and has superior internationalization capabilities compared to the Man package.
Man-Pages
A number of useful manpages, not supplied by other packages
MPC
This package is required by GCC.
MPFR
This package is required by GCC.
Ncurses
Needed by several packages in CLFS, such as Vim, Bash, and Less
Patch
Used for applying patches in several CLFS packages
Perl
The Perl package contains the Practical Extraction and Report Language. It is required by several CLFS packages.
Pkg-config-lite
Several packages in CLFS, and many others outside of CLFS, use pkg-config to locate dependencies.
Procps-ng
Provides a number of small, useful utilities that give
information about the /proc
filesystem.
Psmisc
Provides more utilties that give information about the
/proc filesystem.
Readline
The Readline library provides a set of functions for use by applications that allow users to edit command lines as they are typed in. This is essential for input in programs like bash to work properly.
Rsyslog
This package provides a system logging daemon.
Sed
This package contains a stream editor. It is used in the installation procedures of most CLFS packages.
Shadow
This package contains programs that assist in the administration of users and groups, and passwords.
Sysvinit
Sysvinit provides the init daemon for the system.
Tar
Required to unpack the tar archives in which all CLFS packages are distributed
Tcl
Needed for the test suites of several packages
Texinfo
This package contains programs for viewing, installing and converting info pages. It is used in the installation procedures of many CLFS packages.
Util-linux
The Util-linux package contains miscellaneous utility programs. Among them are utilities for handling file systems, consoles, partitions, and messages. It also includes libraries that are required by E2fsprogs.
Vim
The Vim package contains a text editor. Users may substitute Nano, Joe, Emacs, or whatever other editor they prefer.
XZ Utils
Useful for compressing files to reduce size. Also needed to uncompress tarballs for many CLFS packages
Zlib
The Zlib package contains compression and decompression routines used by some programs.