Post #4083408

2026-07-25 04:00 UTC

Hey, #netbsd folk. Forgive my ignorance on this topic. But I need to build a NetBSD port for a distribution that doesn't have one ready to go. Can NetBSD be built from source *on Linux* or does it need to be built from within a NetBSD environment itself? Just so I know if I need to spin up a NetBSD build VM first

Replies (3)

@netbsd@mastodon.sdf.org 2026-07-25 08:18

@CursedSilicon@social.treehouse.systems That is what our build system is designed to make possible, yes.

Open ##4083407
@miss_rodent@girlcock.club 2026-07-25 04:09

@CursedSilicon@social.treehouse.systems Short answer: Yes Long answer: https://www.netbsd.org/docs/guide/en/chap-build.html assumes a netBSD host, but, as long as all the build tools are compatible, you can poke at it until it stops yelling at you. If you look at the linked paper they mention it works on most POSIX-ey OSes. (Personally; I'd just do the VM.)

Open ##4333317
@jaypatelani@bsd.network 2026-07-25 05:27

@CursedSilicon@social.treehouse.systems you can build NetBSD on Linux, mac, windows or any major OSes out there. The beauty of its build system Edit: https://www.netbsd.org/docs/guide/en/chap-build.html https://youtu.be/fx2rodSmBUM I used this video long ago to build it will work today also. The documentation guide is also very good. If you hit any problem let us know or report at the mailing list you will get a reply.

Open ##4333320