initramfs: switch to passwd -d -R in scripts/lib/initramfs.sh:initramfs_finalize_customization() for shadow-aware passwordless root (aligned with 9423b708 intent), drop sed and chpasswd paths, and add validation diagnostics. common: normalize INSTALL_DIR/COMPONENTS_DIR/KERNEL_DIR/DIST_DIR to absolute paths after sourcing config to prevent validation resolving under kernel/current. Dockerfile: include shadow (for passwd/chpasswd), ensure openssl and openssl-dev present; remove perl. config: introduce ZEROOS_PASSWORDLESS_ROOT default true and comment password vars. docs: NOTES.md updated with diagnostics and flow.
- Fix container output visibility with proper TTY handling and debug mode
- Fix build order: kernel modules built before initramfs creation
- Implement two-stage kernel build to resolve chicken-and-egg dependency
- Fix sed command issues in kernel configuration with direct execution
- Add diffutils package to container for proper kernel build support
- Enhance NIC module/firmware correlation with intelligent selection
- Fix module staging logic: all NICs loaded in stage1 before network up
- Add smart firmware installation based on module requirements
- Create comprehensive function documentation (scripts/functionlist.md)
- Add debug container script for troubleshooting
Major fixes:
* Container builds now show real-time output
* Kernel builds work with proper GNU diff support
* Module/firmware selection optimized for common hardware
* Build process handles dependencies correctly
* Documentation provides complete function reference
