NeuronOS Arch ISO Build[NAme patent pending, idk what to use] — Project Overview

Project Structure

archIsoBuilding/
├── archlive/                 # Main ISO build profile
│   ├── airootfs/             # Root filesystem for the live environment
│   │   ├── etc/              # System configuration files
│   │   │   ├── mkinitcpio.d/     # Custom initramfs presets
│   │   │   ├── mkinitcpio.conf.d/ # Kernel hooks configs
│   │   │   ├── modprobe.d/       # Module configuration
│   │   │   ├── pacman.d/hooks/   # Custom pacman hooks
│   │   │   ├── ssh/sshd_config.d/ # SSH configuration
│   │   │   ├── systemd/           # Systemd unit and generator configs
│   │   │   │   ├── multi-user.target.wants/  # Services to start at boot
│   │   │   │   ├── network-online.target.wants/
│   │   │   │   ├── sysinit.target.wants/
│   │   │   │   └── ...other dirs
│   │   │   └── xdg/reflector/     # Mirror reflector configuration
│   │   ├── root/                # Root user files for live environment
│   │   │   └── customize_airootfs.sh   # Customization script for live ISO
│   │   └── usr/local/           # User binaries and extras
│   │       ├── bin/              # Custom scripts (install-ml.sh, etc)
│   │       └── share/livecd-sound/   # Live CD sounds
│   ├── efiboot/loader/entries/    # UEFI boot entries
│   ├── grub/                      # GRUB config for ISO
│   └── syslinux/                  # Syslinux config for ISO
├── local_repo/                     # Local package repository (if used)
└── out/                            # Output ISO files

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Important Files and Purpose

File	Purpose / Notes
archlive/airootfs/root/customize_airootfs.sh	Runs during ISO build to customize live root filesystem. Installs packages, sets hostname, users, shells, themes, and configs.
archlive/packages.x86_64	Packages to be installed via pacman into live environment during build.
archlive/airootfs/etc/systemd/system/post-install.service	Runs once after installation on target system. Installs Python / ML packages like Transformers, Accelerate, Datasets, Safetensors, Sentencepiece, etc.
archlive/airootfs/usr/local/bin/install-ml.sh	Script executed by post-install.service to install ML packages.
archlive/profiledef.sh	ISO metadata: name, label, description, version, publisher, boot modes, etc.
archlive/airootfs/hooks/arch_user.hook	Creates live user arch, sets groups, shells, .zshrc, fastfetch config, and passwordless sudo.
archlive/airootfs/hooks/50-copy_kernel.hook	Copies the built kernel vmlinuz from /lib/modules/.../vmlinuz into /boot before mkarchiso prepares the ISO, ensuring initramfs generation works.

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Key Fixes / Changes Made

1. Live user creation

   • Original customize_airootfs.sh tried usermod arch before the user existed.
   • Fixed by creating arch via arch_user.hook (runs at correct hook stage).

2. Kernel initramfs issue

   • Original mkinitcpio.d/linux.preset pointed to /boot/vmlinuz-linux.
   • Your custom kernel is /lib/modules/6.16.4-2-mits-capstone-Mits-Capstone/vmlinuz.
   • Fixed by creating a hook 50-copy_kernel.hook that copies vmlinuz after kernel installation but before mkarchiso prepares ISO.

3. mkinitcpio preset update

   • Modified to point to custom kernel (6.16.4-2-mits-capstone-Mits-Capstone)
   • Ensures default and fallback initramfs images are generated correctly.

4. /tmp space issue

   • Original build used /tmp (RAM-backed, small).
   • Now using /home/zane/archiso-work as -r workdir to avoid "No space left on device."

5. Fastfetch config

   • Copied /root/.config/fastfetch/config.jsonc to /home/arch/.config/fastfetch/config.jsonc for live user theme info.

6. Post-install ML setup

   • install-ml.sh and post-install.service ensure ML ecosystem installed after first boot, preventing ISO bloat.

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Notes on Build Flow

1. Package Installation → packages.x86_64 installed into airootfs.
2. Kernel & Initramfs → 50-copy_kernel.hook copies vmlinuz, mkinitcpio generates initramfs-linux-mits-capstone.img and fallback.
3. User Setup → arch_user.hook creates live user, sets .zshrc, sudo, fastfetch.
4. Customize AIrootfs → Runs scripts and sets hostname, themes, services.
5. ISO Prep → mkarchiso prepares boot loaders, copies kernel/initramfs, creates ISO.
6. Post-install ML → Runs only on installed system via systemd service.