TigerClips1, a long time Forum and Discord member recently posted about his latest project JaguarLinux for PS4 on the forums. This distro is a first of its kind in the PS4 Linux scene. This is because JaguarLinux is a custom LFS (Linux from Scratch) distro, especially meant for the PS4. In this article, I will explain why this is so unique and interesting.
JaguarLinux for PS4: LFS on PS4
To understand better, you need to know what Linux From Scratch (LFS) is. Here is how the official page for the project defines it:-
Linux From Scratch (LFS) is a project that provides you with step-by-step instructions for building your own custom Linux system, entirely from source code.
Available as PDF, as well as an online guide, LFS aims to help anyone and everyone build their own custom distros from scratch. Now, what does from scratch mean? Let me explain. See, almost every other PS4 Linux distro released till this point has been a port, i.e., they have just been ported to the PS4 from distros that have already been developed and already have their own package managers. This is where JaguarLinux stands out. JaguarLinux for PS4 is a custom from scratch distro, that when complete will come with its own package manager, packages and repositories. And, it goes without saying that it isn’t a port, or isn’t based on a pre-existing distro. For example, Pop OS for PS4 is a port of PopOS. JaguarLinux isn’t a port! Hope you get the idea.
Install JaguarLinux on PS4
Pretty sure that you are eager to try this new distro out. But, pump your brakes for now! If it wasn’t made clear, developing a distro from scratch isn’t an easy feat. Thus, JaguarLinux for PS4 is still a work in progress (WIP). I will be updating you readers on the progress of this distro when it happens. But, as of today, TigerClips1 lets us know that the distro lacks a GUI (Graphical User Interface) or the PS4 Linux drivers (Mesa, Xorg, Libdrm, etc.), but does have the PS4 ucode builtin. This means, you can access the distro using the terminal or SSH, as of now.
Want to try this distro? TigerClips1 shared a link for the distro archive on the forums recently. You can download it here. For installation, you can use the Rescueshell method or the faster method. If this is your first time installing a PS4 Linux distro, check out out PS4 Linux AIO Documentation.
JaguarLinux for PS4: Development status
JaguarLinux Repositories
- JaguarLinux for PS4 Package Manager (based on Alpine Package Manager)
- JaguarLinux for PS4 Packages (accepting PRs)
JaguarLinux for PS4 Timeline
11 September, 2024
- Basic packages for internet access (dhcpd, wget, curl, ssh, etc.) installed
- Support for WiFi, no Bluetooth yet
16 October, 2024
- Work on package manager continuing
- Distro archive released.
Conclusion
What TigerClips1 has achieved is nothing short of awesome. If you are a dev and would like to help the development of this new distro, check out the repositories mentioned above and push PRs. Also, please understand that the distro is still in its early phases. So, try it out at your own risk. For troubleshooting and help, reply to this forum post.
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