diff --git a/python/casa_distro/command.py b/python/casa_distro/command.py
index b9b4519b..de3f1ef6 100644
--- a/python/casa_distro/command.py
+++ b/python/casa_distro/command.py
@@ -333,7 +333,7 @@ def main(meant_for_container=False):
             # don't allow command options after a non-kw argument, so that
             # the remaining is passed as positional arguments and may be used
             # as part of a sub-command. ex:
-            # casa_distro run bash -c 'name=brainvisa-opensource printenv name'
+            # casa_distro run bash -c 'name=brainvisa-core printenv name'
             # will run the command
             allows_kwargs = False
     try:
diff --git a/python/casa_distro/configuration_gui.py b/python/casa_distro/configuration_gui.py
index 44726d97..0f3cbfdb 100644
--- a/python/casa_distro/configuration_gui.py
+++ b/python/casa_distro/configuration_gui.py
@@ -935,8 +935,9 @@ def __init__(self, conf, parent=None):
                 'base casa-distro directory, if the casa_distro command is '
                 'used to manage several environments.')),
             ('distro', traits.Str(
-                'opensource', desc='Projects set name. Normally "opensource", '
-                '"brainvisa", "cea", "web". Other sets may be defined. '
+                'core', desc='Projects set name. Normally "core", '
+                '"opensource", "brainvisa", "cea", "web". Other sets may be '
+                'defined. '
                 'Changing it after the initial setup has no effect.')),
             ('system', traits.Str(
                 '', desc='Name of the Linux system running inside the '
diff --git a/python/casa_distro/container_environment.py b/python/casa_distro/container_environment.py
index 3a17b3ae..00e7bd44 100644
--- a/python/casa_distro/container_environment.py
+++ b/python/casa_distro/container_environment.py
@@ -241,7 +241,7 @@ def setup_user(setup_dir='/casa/setup', rw_install=False, distro=None,
           'variables, mount points in the virtual image, etc.')
 
 
-def setup_dev(setup_dir='/casa/setup', distro='opensource', branch='master',
+def setup_dev(setup_dir='/casa/setup', distro='core', branch='master',
               system=None, image_version=None, image=None, name=None):
     if not system:
         system = os.getenv('CASA_SYSTEM')
@@ -424,13 +424,13 @@ def setup_dev(setup_dir='/casa/setup', distro='opensource', branch='master',
 
 There are two situations, which we could simplify as this:
 
-* opensource distro: if you are only using open-source projects, you can
-  use the public credentials:
+* core distro: if you are only using projects without source restrictions,
+  you can use the public credentials:
 
     Username: brainvisa
     Password: Soma2009
 
-* brainvisa and other non-totally opensource distros: they need a
+* brainvisa and other distros containing pivate source code: they need a
   personal login and password.
 
 
diff --git a/python/casa_distro/singularity.py b/python/casa_distro/singularity.py
index 88fc73a7..7b124726 100644
--- a/python/casa_distro/singularity.py
+++ b/python/casa_distro/singularity.py
@@ -165,7 +165,7 @@ def create_image(base, base_metadata,
         echo "mv \"$SINGULARITY_CONTAINER\" ~/casa_distro/"
         echo 'cd ~/casa_distro'
         echo "singularity run -B ./brainvisa-master:/casa/setup \\\\"
-        echo "    $SINGULARITY_NAME distro=opensource"
+        echo "    $SINGULARITY_NAME distro=core"
         echo
         echo 'If you have already setup such an environment, you should'
         echo 'run the image using appropriate options, mount points, and'
diff --git a/share/distro/core/casa_distro.json b/share/distro/core/casa_distro.json
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..b29c2cc9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/share/distro/core/casa_distro.json
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+{
+    "casa_distro_compatibility": "3.0",
+    "name": "core",
+    "description": "This distro contains the open source core software of BrainVISA suite (non-applicative)."
+}
diff --git a/share/distro/core/conf/bv_maker.cfg b/share/distro/core/conf/bv_maker.cfg
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..e7a70376
--- /dev/null
+++ b/share/distro/core/conf/bv_maker.cfg
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+[ source $CASA_SRC ]
+  brainvisa core $CASA_BRANCH
+
+[ build $CASA_BUILD ]
+  default_steps = configure build doc
+  make_options = -j$NCPU
+  build_type = Release
+  packaging_thirdparty = OFF
+  clean_config = ON
+  clean_build = ON
+  test_ref_data_dir = $CASA_TESTS/ref
+  test_run_data_dir = $CASA_TESTS/test
+  brainvisa core $CASA_BRANCH $CASA_SRC