A grass roots distribution of Linux is attempting to put the magic back into open source by recognising system administrators for the wizards they are and allowing them an arsenal of Linux-based 'spells'.

Sorcerer GNU Linux (SGL) follows in the footsteps of obscure but useful Linux distros such as Tinfoil Hat Linux.

Sorcerer is a source-based distribution which downloads sources directly from software authors' homepages and mirrors, then compiles them with the architecture and optimisations that the system administrator specifies.

Every piece of software is installed, tracked and archived for easy removal and upgrade.

Designed as a distribution for advanced systems administrators with both command line and menu driven package management programs, Sorcerer treats the administrator as a wizard, hence the name.

To accomplish the 'magic' seen by the uninitiated end user, the wizard is able to 'cast' application spells. Using the command line "cast [application]" will locate the latest stable source for the relevant application, perhaps the author's homepage, and download, configure, compile and install it.

All of the Sorcerer's compatible 'spells' available at the fingertips of the wizard are kept in a 'grimoire', an old term for a book of spells and incantations.

Currently, the SGL grimoire contains nearly 900 spells and is growing at an almost magical rate. But this is where the problems start.

Like many of the smaller open source projects, SGL is run more as a hobby than a business. Over the last weekend, Kyle Sallee, the creator of SGL, said that he would no longer be able to maintain the grimoire.

According to his announcement it will be maintained by other people, but Sallee gives no more details.

To keep the magic of SGL alive Sallee is seeking help from the open source community.

According to a February announcement SGL needs "computers, money and a suitable web host to distribute production-quality sorcery. If you want to contribute to SGL so that I can continue development and distribution, please email cromwell@metalab.unc.edu or, even better, find me on irc://irc.openprojects.net/#Sorcerer."

The homepage for Sorcerer Linux can be found here.