Distribution Morphing - Transforming of a Linux Distribution into Another Linux Distribution

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A visual representation of distribution morphing

Distribution morphing refers to the process of transforming an existing Linux distribution into a different, usually derivative, distribution by installing specific packages and making necessary configurations.

Overview and Methodology

Distribution morphing is a procedure that allows users to effectively transform their current Linux distribution into a different one, which is often a derivative of the base distribution. This can depending on the distribution entail:

• Updating the system's repository list to point to the new distribution's repositories.
• Installing key packages from the new distribution, which may include core system components, default applications, and desktop environments.
• Removing or replacing any packages that are specific to the old distribution and not needed or compatible with the new one.
• Applying necessary system configurations to ensure the new distribution functions properly.

Howto/Examples

Examples of distribution morphing include transitioning from:

• Debian to Kicksecure - This involves amending the APT sources list and installing the Kicksecure meta packages.
• Whonix Installation from Whonix APT Repository
• Arch to Parabola
• Arch to Hyperbola

Moreover, it's possible to morph from one fork to another provided they share the same base distribution, such as:

• Manjaro to Parabola
• Parabola to Hyperbola

Kicksecure

In case of Kicksecure, "distribution morphing" might sound big and imply many things which are unintended. Kicksecure is still based on Debian, binary compatible with, still using packages.debian.org and bugs found in Kicksecure are welcome to be reported to Debian directly should they be in any packages by Debian.

In contrast, this might be different different for Ubuntu. To the knowledge of the author, it's impossible to distro morph Debian into Ubuntu because it's not binary compatible. Ubuntu hosts its own package repository packages.ubuntu.com and users are not directly connecting to packages.debian.org. It's a much great scope of fork.

See Also

• 'sudo apt-get install whonix' Part I / Distro-Morphing
• 'sudo apt-get install whonix' Part II / Whonix Packages for Debian Hosts

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