fruix/docs/reports/phase7-rootfs-freebsd.md

Phase 7.3: Installable FreeBSD rootfs tree materialized from the Fruix system closure

Date: 2026-04-01

Summary

This step takes the Phase 7.2 system closure and materializes a root filesystem tree suitable for later image-construction work.

Added files:

• tests/system/materialize-phase7-rootfs.scm
• tests/system/run-phase7-rootfs.sh

Validation command

Run command:

METADATA_OUT=/tmp/phase7-rootfs-metadata.txt \
./tests/system/run-phase7-rootfs.sh

What the harness does

The harness:

1. ensures the local Guile/Fibers/Shepherd runtime is available
2. reuses the declarative Phase 7 operating-system model
3. materializes the referenced system closure under /frx/store
4. creates a root filesystem tree that points at that closure through:
   • /run/current-system
   • boot symlinks
   • /bin, /sbin, /lib, and /usr/* links into the system profile
   • generated /etc links into the system closure
   • generated Shepherd rc.d launch integration
5. performs static validation of the generated rootfs structure

Observed results

Observed metadata included:

• rootfs=/tmp/.../rootfs
• closure_path=/frx/store/...-fruix-system-fruix-freebsd
• run_current_system_target=/frx/store/...-fruix-system-fruix-freebsd
• activate_target=/run/current-system/activate
• bin_target=/run/current-system/profile/bin
• sbin_target=/run/current-system/profile/sbin
• boot_kernel_target=/run/current-system/boot/kernel
• boot_loader_target=/run/current-system/boot/loader
• boot_loader_efi_target=/run/current-system/boot/loader.efi
• rc_conf_target=/run/current-system/etc/rc.conf
• rc_script_target=/run/current-system/usr/local/etc/rc.d/fruix-shepherd
• ready_marker=/var/lib/fruix/ready
• validation_mode=static-rootfs-check
• ready_state_mode=freebsd-init+rc.d-shepherd

Important findings

• the current FreeBSD Fruix track now has a concrete rootfs tree derived from the declarative system model and closure rather than only a closure directory in the store
• the rootfs uses a Guix-like /run/current-system anchor so that generated configuration and system profile content remain tied back to the declarative closure
• static validation confirmed:
  • boot asset linkage
  • generated /etc linkage
  • activation payload presence
  • Shepherd launch integration
  • declared filesystem content
  • declared user/group provisioning in the activation path
  • the deterministic ready-marker path for the first boot target
• the chosen ready state for the first integrated FreeBSD system remains:
  • FreeBSD init + rc.d + Shepherd-managed ready marker

Conclusion

Phase 7.3 is satisfied on the current FreeBSD prototype track:

• a root filesystem tree can now be materialized from the declarative Fruix system closure
• the rootfs is internally coherent enough for the next image-construction phase
• Phase 7 as a whole is now complete on the active FreeBSD amd64 prototype path