bootoci 0.3.0

Convert OCI images to bootable disk images

BootOCI

What does it do?

BootOCI aims to create bootable disk images from OCI images (Docker container images).

It leverages the build cache feature of buildx / buildah to create efficient and fast builds.

This project exists because I wasn't satisfied with other solutions and I really like Docker.

1. live-build - way too complicated, hard to keep track of changes
2. mkosi - never actually got it to work properly

Tech stack

• Build backend: buildx or buildah
• Bootloader: GRUB
• Initramfs: dracut-ng

Installation

Currently supports Linux only.

Just run:

pip install bootoci

Usage examples

Debian 12 that boots into a shell:

bootoci -o ./bin/disk.img --docker --ash --kernel-from-debian --tag debian:12 --size 1024

Debian 12 with an upstream kernel:

bootoci -o ./bin/disk.img --docker --ash --kernel-from-source --tag debian:12 --size 1024

Ubuntu 24.04 with a serial ash shell:

bootoci -o ./bin/disk.img --docker --ash --kernel-from-debian --tag ubuntu:24.04 --serial

Debian 13 with GNOME, hostname and user passwords, in QCOW2 format:

bootoci -o ./bin/disk.img --docker --kernel-from-debian --tag debian-gnome --dockerfile ./examples/debian-gnome.Dockerfile --size 8192 --password root:12345678 --password user:12345678 --serial --format qcow2

Postgres server that starts on boot:

bootoci -o ./bin/disk.img --docker --kernel-from-debian --tag postgres --dockerfile ./examples/postgres-alpine.Dockerfile --size 1024 --entrypoint --serial

Usage in development

# Build a fully-fledged ubuntu desktop machine
python3 -m src.bootoci.cli --docker --kernel-from-debian -f ./examples/ubuntu-desktop.Dockerfile --size 4096 --serial --password "root:12345678" --password "user:12345678"

Testing images

# Test for UEFI boot
qemu-system-x86_64 -enable-kvm -M q35 -m 2G -bios /usr/share/ovmf/OVMF.fd -drive file=./bin/disk.img,format=raw

# Test for Legacy (BIOS) boot (not supported)
# qemu-system-x86_64 -enable-kvm -M q35 -m 2G -drive file=./bin/image.raw,format=raw

TODO

• Hybrid boot that supports Legacy and UEFI boot