Bootc

aid: bootc
name: Bootc
description: Bootc is an open source tool that enables transactional, in-place operating system updates using OCI/Docker container
  images as the source for OS updates. It applies the container layering model to bootable host systems, using standard OCI
  containers as a transport and delivery format for base operating system updates. The container image includes a Linux kernel,
  and when deployed the base userspace runs normally with systemd as PID 1. Bootc is a CNCF Sandbox project with a stable
  CLI and API.
type: Index
deliveryModel:
  model: unknown
  open_source: unknown
  commercial: false
  callable_host: false
  label: Delivery model not determined — needs a product licence on record
  confidence: low
  source:
  - repository-unlicensed
  generated: '2026-08-28'
  method: derived
accessModel:
  pricing: unknown
  onboarding: unknown
  trial: false
  try_now: false
  public: false
  label: Unknown
  confidence: low
  source: []
  generated: '2026-07-22'
  method: derived
image: https://kinlane-images.s3.amazonaws.com/shared/apis-json/icons/bootc.png
url: https://raw.githubusercontent.com/api-evangelist/bootc/refs/heads/main/apis.yml
created: '2024-01-01'
modified: '2026-04-19'
specificationVersion: '0.23'
tags:
- CNCF
- Container Images
- Infrastructure
- OCI
- Open-Source
- Operating Systems
- System Updates
tags_raw:
- CNCF
- Container Images
- Infrastructure
- OCI
- Open Source
- Operating Systems
- System Updates
apis: []
common:
- type: IssueTracker
  url: https://github.com/bootc-dev/bootc/issues
- type: SecurityPolicy
  url: https://github.com/bootc-dev/bootc/blob/main/SECURITY.md
- type: CodeOfConduct
  url: https://github.com/bootc-dev/bootc/blob/main/CODE_OF_CONDUCT.md
- type: ContributionGuide
  url: https://github.com/bootc-dev/bootc/blob/main/CONTRIBUTING.md
- type: DomainSecurity
  url: security/bootc-domain-security.yml
- type: Website
  url: https://bootc.dev
- type: Documentation
  url: https://bootc.dev/bootc/
- type: GitHubRepository
  url: https://github.com/bootc-dev/bootc
- type: GitHubOrganization
  url: https://github.com/containers/bootc
- type: Community
  url: https://github.com/bootc-dev/bootc/discussions
- type: ReleaseNotes
  url: https://github.com/bootc-dev/bootc/releases
- url: https://bootc.dev/rss.xml
  type: Blog
- name: Use Cases
  type: UseCases
  data:
  - name: OS Image Updates
    url: https://bootc.dev/bootc/upgrades.html
    features:
    - Transactional Updates
    - In-Place OS Updates
    - Atomic Upgrades
    - Rollback Support
    - Container-Based Updates
    - OCI Image Updates
  - name: OS Image Installation
    url: https://bootc.dev/bootc/bootc-install.html
    features:
    - Disk Installation
    - Filesystem Installation
    - Container to Disk
    - Day 2 OS Setup
  - name: Container Image Switching
    url: https://bootc.dev/bootc/
    features:
    - Image Reference Switching
    - Distribution Switching
    - Container Registry Tracking
  - name: Immutable Infrastructure
    url: https://bootc.dev/bootc/
    features:
    - Immutable OS
    - Reproducible Systems
    - GitOps for OS
    - Infrastructure as Code
    - Container Native OS
- name: Features
  type: Features
  data:
  - name: bootc upgrade
    url: https://bootc.dev/bootc/
    features:
    - Pull Latest OCI Image
    - Stage New Deployment
    - Auto-Apply on Reboot
    - Download-Only Mode
    - Update Checking
  - name: bootc switch
    url: https://bootc.dev/bootc/
    features:
    - Change Container Image Reference
    - Switch OS Distribution
    - Change Registry Source
    - Seamless Image Tracking
  - name: bootc status
    url: https://bootc.dev/bootc/
    features:
    - Current Booted Image Display
    - Staged Changes Status
    - JSON Output
    - YAML Output
  - name: bootc rollback
    url: https://bootc.dev/bootc/
    features:
    - Revert to Previous Boot
    - Boot Loader Entry Reordering
    - Safe Rollback
  - name: bootc install
    url: https://bootc.dev/bootc/bootc-install.html
    features:
    - Install to Disk
    - Install to Filesystem
    - Offline Installation
    - Air-Gapped Deployment
  - name: OCI/Docker Compatibility
    url: https://bootc.dev/bootc/
    features:
    - OCI Image Format
    - Docker Image Compatibility
    - Container Registry Support
    - Layered Image Model
    - Linux Kernel in Image
  - name: ostree Integration
    url: https://bootc.dev/bootc/
    features:
    - ostree Backend
    - Atomic Updates
    - Content-Addressed Storage
    - Deployment Management
maintainers:
- FN: Kin Lane
  email: kinlane@gmail.com