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Design Documentation about Redistribution of Kicksecure

Introduction[edit]

Developers only!

These are notes for producing official downloadable binary Kicksecure images.

Before Major Release 18[edit]

update repository origin value as per https://www.kicksecure.com/wiki/Dev/APT#changed_its_'Origin'_value_from_'whonix'_to_'kicksecure'
Check if /etc/grub.d/10_linux was updated in Debian. If so, update our fork in dist-base-files /etc/grub.d/10_00_linux_dist

Pre Building[edit]

Only required if you want to redistribute (official) Kicksecure builds.

check if https://github.com/Kicksecure/kicksecure-base-files/blob/master/etc/kicksecure_version needs update
package timesanitycheck: ./usr/share/timesanitycheck/date-minimum-file-create
Dev/Maintenance

Clean source code

^[1]
^[2]
You can get a list of unwanted files with git clean -dfxn and remove them with git clean -dfx.

Update Kicksecure debian package repository.

add your own default-key to your own /home/user/.gnupg/gpg.conf.

Check that all packages point to a signed git commit and signed git tag.

~/derivative-maker/packages/kicksecure/developer-meta-files/debug-steps/packaging-helper-script pkg_verify_signed_commit_and_tag

push the source code to github

git push origin master

Check, that the current git commit is a signed. ^[3]

git log --show-signature HEAD^..HEAD

Or use the generic makefile as a shortcut.

make git-commit-verify

Create an OpenPGP signed git tag. This will also be used as Kicksecure version number.

git tag -s version

Make sure the current git head is a signed git commit and signed git tag.

To simplify this, you could use the generic makefile.

make git-verify

Push the OpenPGP signed git tag to github.

git push origin version

Enable Kicksecure stable repository by default.

export DERIVATIVE_APT_REPOSITORY_OPTS='--enable --repository stable'

And use sudo -E so above environment is kept.

Building[edit]

Build[edit]

Build Kicksecure. For example Kicksecure with Xfce for VirtualBox.

sudo -E ./derivative-maker --build --repo true --target virtualbox --flavor whonix-gateway-xfce

Build Kicksecure. For example Kicksecure with Xfce for VirtualBox.

sudo -E ./derivative-maker --build --repo true --target virtualbox --flavor whonix-workstation-xfce

For other options and platforms also see build documentation.

Post Building[edit]

Only required if you want to redistribute (official) Kicksecure builds.

Dev/APT Repository

Image Signing

A) own custom builds: Optionally sign the images.
B) official Kicksecure builds: Mandatory sign the images.

OpenPGP sign the images.

~/derivative-maker/packages/kicksecure/developer-meta-files/release/dm-prepare-release --flavor whonix-workstation --target virtualbox --build

Only required if you want to redistribute (official) Kicksecure builds.

Upload the images.

~/derivative-maker/packages/kicksecure/developer-meta-files/release/upload_images

Testing[edit]

/usr/share/whonix-ws-firewall/unit_tests/stream_isolation_test
At least a few testers should test final releases before posting a news. Testers may be found by posting a news.
Whonix only: Leak Tests!
Test the images before final release! (Testers-only releases can be uploaded straight away.)

Update Permanent Links[edit]

Update permalinks.

sudoedit /etc/nginx/conf.d/download_redirects

cacheclear-minimal

(ticket)

Git Tag[edit]

Create -testers-only or -stable git tag.

Announcement Text Creation[edit]

Create Changelog and Announcement.

./debug-steps/packaging-helper-script pkg_git_packages_git_log_writer

Wiki Page Updates[edit]

Only required if you want to redistribute (official) Kicksecure builds.

Check, if Tor Browser/Manual Download is still up to date.
Update Download Table.
See if the download table works in Tor Browser using New Identity.
Update Known Issues.
See if Documentation still makes sense.
Search the wiki for Special:WhatLinksHere/Template:Stable and Special:WhatLinksHere/Template:Testing and act accordingly.
Update links on the Dev/Build Documentation page.
Update Features.
Update Template:VersionNew.
Update Template:VersionShort.
Template:Stable_project_version_based_on_Debian_codename
Template:Stable_project_version_based_on_Debian_version_short
Template:Debian_Codename_Testing
Instructions containing backports.

Misc[edit]

Only required if you want to redistribute (official) Kicksecure builds.

See https://github.com/Kicksecure?utf8=%E2%9C%93&q=deprecated&type=&language= for deprecated repositories to be deleted.
https://www.qubes-os.org/doc/supported-releases/#templates
ask for an announcement on https://www.qubes-os.org/news/
- (similar to https://www.qubes-os.org/news/2018/08/07/whonix-14-has-been-released/)
- (similar to https://github.com/QubesOS/qubes-posts/blob/master/2018-08-07-whonix-14-has-been-released.md)
- (similar to https://github.com/QubesOS/qubes-issues/issues/4193)

https://github.com/QubesOS/qubes-mgmt-salt-dom0-virtual-machines/blob/master/qvm/whonix.jinja

Announcement[edit]

Only required if you want to redistribute (official) Kicksecure builds.

introduction (what is Kicksecure) (The release announcement may be the first thing that new people who learn about Kicksecure see.)
similar to https://forums.whonix.org/t/whonix-14-has-been-released
deprecation notice of old Kicksecure version with date of deprecation

Where

Finally announce: Post a news. (Not nagging external lists. Common sense. Mostly only final releases.)
- In Kicksecure Important and Feature Blog.
- https://lists.debian.org/debian-derivatives/
  - debian-derivatives@lists.debian.org
- https://lists.torproject.org/pipermail/tor-talk/
  - tor-talk@lists.torproject.org
- https://nmap.org/mailman/listinfo/fulldisclosure
  - fulldisclosure@seclists.org
- Also this will do the job as well:
  - Kicksecure Forums Profiles

Cleanup[edit]

any deprecated repositories (none at time of writing)

Related[edit]

To quality of redistributable builds: Distro Morphing vs Builds

Footnotes[edit]

↑ get rid of .directory files inside the source code: thunar → preferences → general → behavior → use common view properties for all folders
↑ Get rid of ~backup files. In other words, get rid of files starting with ~. find ./ -name '*~' | xargs trash-put
↑ You might wish using a git or bash alias to safe typing.

Dev/Maintenance Design Dev/Donate Previous page: Dev/Maintenance Index page: Design Next page: Dev/Donate

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Dev/Redistribution

Contents

Introduction[edit]

Before Major Release 18[edit]

Pre Building[edit]