
README for debootstrap
======================

Usage
-----

A command, run as root, like:

	# debootstrap woody ./woody-chroot http://ftp.cx.debian.org/debian

will create a woody chroot in ./woody-chroot, using debs downloaded from
ftp.cx.debian.org. The mirror will default to ftp.debian.org if not given.

You can use use file: urls either as `file:<path>' or
`file://localhost/<path>'. They're trated as being absolute, not relative
to $PWD.

You can prefix the argument "--boot-floppies", in which case stdin will be
redirected from /dev/null to avoid interactivity, &1 and &2 will be reserved
for dpkg's output, and warnings and errors will be output to &3.

Notes
-----

This is kind of rought at the moment: it installs a chrooted debian
system okay (should work for slink, potato and woody now), but:

	* it can be interactive, which is annoying
	* the output doesn't make too much sense, should have -v options
	* no manpage, the command line options don't make too much sense
	* the base packages don't make the greatest sense:
		- most of them are only relevant for b-f's so it should
		  be b-f's telling debootstrap about them
		- there needs to be some way to add / remove packages from
		  "base" for special needs
	* probably should be able to say `when you're done, chroot in,
	  run apt-get install <...>', for things like build-essential, eg.
	* should be a configfile in /etc for the mirror/s probably

No doubt there are other problems.

NMUing
------

If you're working on boot-floppies or debian-installer or similar, and
there's a problem with debootstrap that you need fixed, feel free to do
an NMU to fix it. Usual rules: try not to break anything, and mail the
patch to the BTS. Don't worry about asking first though.
