How can I create a Linux distro from the source code?

Question

if I want to create a Linux distro like kali, parrot. how can I download the source code of a Linux distro and edit the source code like adding tools, drivers, desktop environment, software, etc? I want a roadmap or guidance to create a Linux distro then extract it into an ISO image? and what about Raspberry Pi also?

Answer 1

You should look into the Yocto project. I don't have much experience with traditional OS development, although Yocto is quickly becoming the defacto for embedded Linux development, and the Pi has huge yocto support directly from openembedded.

Yocto essentially provides a very base version of an OS, which they call poky that is used to be built upon through different 'layers'. These layers can provide anything from hardware support (BSP), to kernel configurations, to systemd/v services, to graphical environments, etc. While Yocto does simplify the OS dev process greatly, there is still a huge learning curve.

The great thing is that a beginner could easily throw in the meta-raspberrypi later, and whip up their own GUI with Qt, while at the same time an experienced pro could create their own SoC, develop their own BSP layer, and have their own fully fledged OS running.