Minutes 2026-03-12

Bedrock Linux:

• Meta distribution

 * Doesn't exactly distribute linux, but instead gives the tools to set up distros
 * Installs multiple distributions so tooling can be used across distros
 * Can set up shared directories, $PATH, init systems, bootloaders, etc.

• How it works:

 * Each distro is a "strata"
 * Each distro has its own rootfs
 * crossfs using FUSE is used to share components
   * Packages managers are oblivious
 * Able to present a unified rootfs, through a lot of trickery
 * Cross-binary paths are added to $PATH

• Installation:

 * Replaces existing distribution instead of wiping it
 * Reorganizes directory structure
 * Can install system you want first, then bedrock-ify it

• Package management:

 * Manages its own fs
 * Minimal conflicts
 * Bedrock uses pmm, which abstracts all your package managers to one interface
 * Can mix different package repositories (debian + arch packages)

• Demo:

 * *she failed to write `btop` like 4 times*
 * On debian system, installing btop from the arch repos
 * `brl which btop` shows which distro has btop
 * `brl which` to see current distro
 * `strat [distro] [command]` to run command on specific distro

• Use cases:

 * Using Debian, want newer packages
 * Pick initramfs or init system
 * Using AUR
 * Using portage

• Limitations:

 * Disk usage overhead
 * Init system conflicts with some packages
 * Some packages assume distro ownership
 * May be unstable
 * Larger attack surface