Minimal & Fast Install from Cubic-generated ISO about cubic HOT 1 CLOSED

Yes.

Before I provide the solution, let me explain why Ubuntu "installs, then uninstalls packages".

Explanation

As you know, Ubuntu has a Live Environment where you can try out the OS using a USB before you install. The Live Environment showcases a "full experience," which includes all of the software that a standard install would contain, to allow users to try out all of the features and software. To achieve this, the OS on the Live ISO contains all of this software preinstalled. When you install the OS to your disk, all of the preinstalled packages and software are simply copied to your disk.

In order to offer a minimal install option, the (Ubiquity) installer then removes packages that should not be included in a minimal installation of Ubuntu. This allows the ISO to be smaller, by not having to keep two separate versions of the OS in the same ISO file.

Cubic allows you to select which packages are removed for a minimal install on the Packages page. (Note, some packages are also removed for a full install; these packages are things that may be needed in a Live Environment, but are not needed on an installed system. Examples of such packages include the Ubiquity installer itself and language packs for foreign languages you have not selected during installation).

Solution

Cubic allows you to customize your Live Environment. This is done in the console on the Terminal page. Packages you install in this console will appear in the Live Environment. Packages you remove in this console will obviously not appear in the Live Environment. As I mentioned earlier, all of the packages on the ISO are copied to the installed system.

Therefore, your solution is simple. If you do not want packages to appear on your installed system (and the Live Environment), simply remove them on the Terminal page. (Naturally, the removed packages will also no longer be listed on the Packages page, because the installer can not remove a package that was never included on the ISO).

Using this technique, you can create a truly "minimal" install ISO, with only the packages you want.

Note about Ubiquity vs. Subiquity

The Packages page is only available if your ISO uses the Ubiquity installer. Newer versions of Ubuntu use the Subiquity installer, and the Packages page will not be displayed for these versions of Ubuntu.

• Ubiquity

  • Ubuntu Server 21.04, and prior versions
  • Ubuntu Desktop 22.10, and prior versions

• Subiquity

  • Ubuntu Server 21.10, and newer versions
  • Ubuntu Desktop 23.04, and newer versions

Regardless of the version of Ubuntu you are customizing, the above solution will help you create a "minimal" install ISO using Cubic.

For the versions of Ubuntu that use Ubiquity, Cubic customizes the typical install on the Terminal page.

In contrast, for versions of Ubuntu that use Subiquity, Cubic only customizes the minimal install on the Terminal page. This is due to the changes Canonical made to the installer, and is not due to Cubic.

Therefore, for Ubuntu Server 21.10+ and Desktop 23.04+, be aware that the Live Environment may not reflect your changes, so you may not be able to test your customizations using the Live ISO. However, your changes will be still installed to your computer, but you must select the mininal install option in Subiquity.

from cubic.