Skip to main content
This doc relates to the below revision of hardware
Mecha Logo

Comet (rev5)

For Pilot users

The all new Mecha Comet

Better in all ways, the next revision of Mecha Comet, coming soon.

Building Debian Rootfs with Mecha Make

Mecha Make is designed to simplify and modularize the process of building a customized Debian-based Linux distribution for the Mecha Comet device. Written in Nushell, Mecha Make uses a series of modules that cover all aspects of system configuration and package installation, enabling you to:

  • Configure network settings, audio, Bluetooth, and more.
  • Manage package sources and installations both on the host and target systems.
  • Automate the entire build process, from setting up a base system with debootstrap to finalizing the root filesystem packaging.

Prerequisites​

Host System Requirements​

  1. Debian-based Linux system (recommended)

  2. Nushell

    Install the latest version of Nushell.

  3. Install required tools:

    $ sudo apt-get update
    $ sudo apt-get install -y \
      debootstrap \
      qemu-user-static \
      wget \
      dpkg

Getting Started​

1. Clone the Repository

git clone https://github.com/mecha-org/mecha-make.git
cd mecha-make

2. Customize Configuration​

Key Configuration Files to Modify​

  • conf/build.yml: Core system settings
    • Change hostname
    • Set timezone
    • Configure user details
    • Modify package sources
  • conf-packages/target.yml: Package selection
    • Add or remove package groups
    • Customize installed packages

Example Customization​

# In conf/build.yml
hostname: my-custom-machine
user:
  name: myuser
  password: mypassword

# In conf-packages/target.yml
# To add a package group
package_groups:
  - name: development
    packages:
      - git
      - build-essential

3. Build the System​

nu build-debian.nu mecha-comet-m-gen1 /path/to/build/directory

This process will generate final rootfs bundle that you can flash to your Mecha comet device.

Customization Tips​

Package Management​

  • Add packages by editing conf-packages/target.yml
  • Create new package groups for specific use cases
  • Remove unnecessary packages to reduce image size

System Configuration​

  • Modify build.yml to:
    • Change keyboard layout
    • Set locale
    • Configure SSH settings
    • Adjust OS release information

Troubleshooting​

  • Check build logs for any installation issues
  • Ensure qemu-user-static is installed
  • Validate YAML configuration files

Quick Modifications Checklist​

  1. ✅ Change hostname
  2. ✅ Set user credentials
  3. ✅ Configure network sources
  4. ✅ Select desired packages
  5. ✅ Customize system locale
  6. ✅ Set up SSH preferences

Warning​

  • Always backup your configuration files
  • Test configurations in a controlled environment
  • Verify package compatibility

Resources​