Software remastering

Software remastering is <a href="/facts/Software_development/UUfsAaYY">software development</a> that recreates <a href="/facts/System_software/0faaXG4d">system software</a> and <a href="/facts/Software_application/YQuj7Kog">applications</a> while incorporating <a href="/facts/Custom_software/pxLpFXlx">customizations</a>, with the intent that it is copied and run elsewhere for "off-label" usage. The term comes from <a href="/facts/Remaster/nmK6ELGp">remastering in media production</a>, where it is similarly distinguished from mere <a href="/facts/Disk_image/wbVUwIeh">copying</a>.
If the <a href="/facts/Codebase/MT0CJ4oD">codebase</a> does not continue to parallel an ongoing, <a href="/facts/Upstream_(software_development)/5eKgNGAn">upstream software development</a>, then it is a <a href="/facts/Fork_(software_development)/D6khxhpr">fork</a>, not a remastered version. If a codebase replicates the behaviour of the original but does not derive from the original codebase then it is a <a href="/facts/Clone_(software)/qd7EcVNT">clone</a>.

Common examples of software remastering include <a href="/facts/Linux_distributions/0vVl4N4f">Linux</a> and <a href="/facts/Unix-like/YAKrAxzd">Unix-like</a> distributions, and video games. Remastered Linux, BSD and OpenSolaris operating system distributions are common because they are not <a href="/facts/Copy_protection/kJLMvTU5">copy protected</a>, but also because of the allowance of such operating systems to grow an application for taking a <a href="/facts/Snapshot_(computer_storage)/LKm3NX2A">snapshot</a> of itself, and of installing that onto bootable media such as a <a href="/facts/Thumb_drive/Jv0qmTCF">thumb drive</a> or a virtual machine in a <a href="/facts/Hypervisor/3gX9fKlH">hypervisor</a>. Since 2001 over 1000 computer operating systems have arisen for download from the Internet. A global community of <a href="/facts/Linux/9FvCKSTq">Linux</a> providers pushes the practice of remastering by developer switching, project overtaking or merging, and by sharing over the Internet. Most distributions start as a remastered version of another distribution as evidenced by the announcements made at <a href="/facts/DistroWatch/PXUkruJo">DistroWatch</a>. Notably, remastering <a href="/facts/SLS_Linux/TLKm6MBK">SLS Linux</a> forked <a href="/facts/Slackware/eGJIIHgW">Slackware</a>, remastering <a href="/facts/Red_Hat_Linux/kIU5PueU">Red Hat Linux</a> helped fork <a href="/facts/Yellow_Dog_Linux/rJ6ypIIv">Yellow Dog Linux</a> and <a href="/facts/Mandriva/508ul05F">Mandriva</a> and <a href="/facts/TurboLinux/ut2w8Hyp">TurboLinux</a>, and by remastering a <a href="/facts/Debian/cBd93qfJ">Debian</a> distribution, <a href="/facts/Ubuntu_(operating_system)/0WDd7hkb">Ubuntu</a> was started, which is itself remastered by the <a href="/facts/Linux_Mint/PDwNIUfT">Linux Mint</a> team. These might involve critical system software, but the extent of the customizations made in remastering can be as trivial as a change in a default setting of the distribution and subsequent provision to an acquaintance on installation media. When a remastered version becomes public it becomes a distribution.
<a href="/facts/Microsoft_Windows/bwhAhuSL">Microsoft Windows</a> has also been modified and remastered. Various utilities exist that combine Windows updates and <a href="/facts/Device_drivers/rDYnHU1G">device drivers</a> with the original Windows CD/DVD installation media, a process known as <a href="/facts/Slipstream_(computing)/sIHVBPls">slipstreaming</a>.
When remastering a distro, <a href="/facts/List_of_remastering_software/FNEAyGbv">remastering software</a> can be applied from the "inside" of a live operating system to clone itself into an installation package. Remastering does not necessarily require the remastering software, which only facilitates the process. For example, an application is remastered just by acquiring, modifying and recompiling its original source code. Many <a href="/facts/Video_games/vmTdNASJ">video games</a> have been <a href="/facts/Mod_(computer_gaming)/Keze0GUe">modded</a> by upgrading them with additional content, levels, or features. Notably, <a href="/facts/Counter-Strike/jneTH9XR">Counter-Strike</a> was remastered from <a href="/facts/Half-Life_(video_game)/hPAqs2gY">Half-Life</a> and went on to be marketed as a commercial product.

Software remastering open-in-new

Software remastering