How copper-linux/copper works
Copper is a source-built Linux distribution with a custom live-boot path, PID 1, first-boot personalization, networking, and copper-sh. The principal workflow is booting the live image into a writable overlay, initializing the system, optionally personalizing it and starting DHCP, then presenting a login shell. The shell’s loop parses commands and dispatches builtins or external programs. Build-pipeline internals are omitted; the boot and service links reflect README documentation and the supplied source excerpts.
Main entry points: copper-init.c Copper PID 1 · main.c Shell loop and parser · init Live initramfs · grub.cfg GRUB menu
Components 16
Live boot
- GRUB menu
iso/boot/grub.cfg - Live initramfs
iso/live/init - Writable root overlay
iso/live/init - Linux kernel
iso - Copper live ISO
iso
System services
- Copper PID 1
iso/src-init/copper-init.c - Interface and DHCP setup
iso/src-init/copper-init.c - DHCP lease script
iso/rootfs-overlay/usr/share/udhcpc/default.script
First boot
- First-boot wizard
iso/firstboot/copper-firstboot.c
Copper shell
- Shell loop and parser
src/main.c - Builtin commands
src/builtins.c - Builtin interface
src/builtins.h
System configuration
- BusyBox account tools
iso - External commands
iso - Default root configuration
iso/rootfs-overlay
Other components
- Computer user
Connections 16
- Computer user → GRUB menu: selects boot
- GRUB menu → Linux kernel: boots
- Linux kernel → Live initramfs: starts
- Live initramfs → Writable root overlay: mounts root
- Live initramfs → Copper PID 1: hands off
- Copper PID 1 → Default root configuration: reads settings
- Copper PID 1 → Interface and DHCP setup: starts
- Interface and DHCP setup → DHCP lease script: runs lease script
- Copper PID 1 → First-boot wizard: runs once
- First-boot wizard → BusyBox account tools: creates account
- Copper PID 1 → Shell loop and parser: starts tty login
- Computer user → Shell loop and parser: enters commands
- Shell loop and parser → Builtin interface: uses interface
- Shell loop and parser → Builtin commands: dispatches builtins
- Shell loop and parser → External commands: executes external
- Copper live ISO → GRUB menu: contains boot menu