Programming a Linux Distribution

[crazmonk]

I was taking a look into programming my own Linux Distribution and are struggling to find out some info about it.

What programming language(s) would I need to know?

What kind of files/kernels would I need to do this?

Is there any way to test the finished product without installing it on a computer? (eg is there a program that would test it without loading it?)

I am running Windows XP and Fedora Core 3 (dual boot).

Any tips would be appreciated

[imdeemvp]

You may find more info here: http://www.gnu.org/gnu/linux-and-gnu.html

[mccabemt]

Perl or Shell scripts are things that I use alot of when I'm doing tasks that could be integrated into a linux distribution. Some distros including Fedora and Ubuntu are using Python alot now.

[Jman]

Start with a goal. What will this new distro do?

No installation means Live CD. As you're new at this try things made for customziation, like Morphix.

[crazmonk]

I haven't really given what it will do much thought yet, but I guess it would do basic functions, possibly involving a word processing program of some sort. I guess at first I would play around with sources/kernels and work up from there.

Is there anything kind of basic that someone could recomend?