curl > /dev/sda: How I made a Linux distro that runs wget | dd

5 hours ago

Explains how to replace a Linux installation by directly downloading a disk image to the disk using commands like `curl https://something.example/foo.img > /dev/sda`.
Highlights the Unix philosophy where disks can be accessed as files, allowing direct writes to `/dev/sdX`.
Discusses the motivation behind this method, including cost-saving and the novelty of the approach.
Describes the process of creating a bootable OS image, including using QEMU for installation and NixOS for automation.
Explores challenges like unmounting the disk being overwritten and solutions such as using rescue images.
Mentions the possibility of automating the process and questions the necessity of a second disk for the operation.
Includes humorous and technical asides, such as the use of different protocols for file transfer and handling compressed images.

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