apt-ostree/docs/apt-ostree-daemon-plan

apt-ostree Daemon Plan - Navigation Guide

🎯 Project Overview

apt-ostree is a hybrid image/package system for Debian/Ubuntu that combines OSTree for atomic updates with APT for package management, aiming for 100% CLI compatibility with rpm-ostree.

📁 Documentation Structure

docs/apt-ostree-daemon-plan/
├── README.md                    # This navigation guide
├── overview.md                  # High-level system overview
├── client-daemon.md             # Client-daemon architecture
├── dbus.md                      # DBus interface definitions
├── 3rd-party-integration.md     # Third-party tool integration
├── architecture/                # Detailed architecture documents (17 files)
│   ├── overview.md              # Architecture overview
│   ├── cli-command-structure.md # CLI architecture
│   ├── ostree-handling.md       # OSTree integration
│   ├── package-overrides.md     # Package override system
│   ├── user-overlays.md         # User overlay system
│   ├── live-updates.md          # Live update system
│   ├── tree-composition.md      # Tree composition
│   ├── database-system.md       # Database operations
│   ├── boot-management.md       # Boot management
│   ├── transaction-system.md    # Transaction system
│   ├── apt-library-analysis.md  # APT integration
│   ├── cli-daemon-separation.md # CLI vs daemon
│   ├── responsibility-analysis.md # Responsibility distribution
│   ├── error-handling-analysis.md # Error handling
│   ├── monitoring-logging-analysis.md # Monitoring
│   ├── oci-integration-analysis.md # OCI integration
│   └── packaging.md             # Packaging architecture
├── implementation/               # Implementation guides
│   ├── getting-started.md       # Quick start guide
│   ├── development-workflow.md  # Development process
│   ├── testing-strategy.md      # Testing approach
│   └── deployment-guide.md      # Deployment instructions
└── reference/                    # Quick reference materials
    ├── command-reference.md     # All CLI commands
    ├── dbus-api.md              # DBus interface reference
    ├── configuration.md         # Configuration options
    └── troubleshooting.md       # Common issues & solutions

🏗️ Architecture Documents (Detailed Implementation)

Core Systems

• OSTree Integration - Complete OSTree handling architecture, package layering, and deployment management
• Package Management - APT integration, package handling, and dependency resolution
• CLI Architecture - Complete CLI command structure, help system, and argument parsing

Advanced Features

• Package Overrides - Package override system with Polkit security, base package replacement
• User Overlays - User overlay filesystem management, transient /usr modifications
• Live Updates - Live system updates without reboot, filesystem synchronization
• Tree Composition - OSTree tree building, composition workflows, and container support

System Management

• Database System - Package database operations, diffing, and version management
• Boot Management - Initramfs management, kernel arguments, and bootloader configuration
• Transaction System - Atomic transaction management, state persistence, and rollback

Integration & Security

• Security Model - Security and privilege management, authorization policies
• OCI Integration - Container image support, OCI standards compliance
• Monitoring & Logging - System monitoring, metrics collection, and structured logging

System Architecture

• CLI-Daemon Separation - Clear separation of responsibilities between CLI and daemon
• Error Handling - Comprehensive error handling, recovery, and user feedback
• Packaging - Debian packaging, systemd integration, and deployment

🚀 Implementation Guides (How to Build)

• Getting Started - Quick start guide for developers
• Development Workflow - Development process, tools, and best practices
• Testing Strategy - Testing approaches, examples, and CI/CD integration
• Deployment Guide - Deployment instructions and production considerations

📚 Reference Materials (Quick Lookup)

• Command Reference - All CLI commands with examples and flags
• DBus API - Complete DBus interface reference and examples
• Configuration - Configuration options, examples, and best practices
• Troubleshooting - Common issues, solutions, and debugging tips

🔗 Quick Navigation by Feature

Package Management

• Install/Remove: CLI Commands → Install/Uninstall
• Overrides: Package Overrides
• User Overlays: User Overlays
• Live Updates: Live Updates

System Operations

• Status & Info: CLI Commands → Status/DB
• Upgrade & Deploy: CLI Commands → Upgrade/Deploy
• Rollback: CLI Commands → Rollback
• Tree Composition: Tree Composition

Boot & Kernel

• Initramfs: Boot Management → Initramfs
• Kernel Args: Boot Management → Kernel Arguments
• Boot Configuration: Boot Management → Bootloader

Security & Privileges

• Authorization: Security Model
• Polkit Integration: Security Model → Polkit
• Privilege Management: Security Model → Privileges

🗺️ Implementation Roadmap

Phase 1: Core Foundation 🏗️

• Architecture Documentation - Complete system architecture documented
• Basic CLI Structure - Command parsing and help system
• OSTree Integration - Basic OSTree operations and deployment
• APT Integration - Package management and dependency resolution

Phase 2: Advanced Features 🚀

• Package Override System - Base package replacement
• User Overlay Management - Transient filesystem modifications
• Live Update Capabilities - Runtime system modifications
• Transaction Management - Atomic operations and rollback

Phase 3: Production Features 🎯

• Security Integration - Polkit authorization and privilege management
• Boot Management - Initramfs and kernel argument handling
• Tree Composition - OSTree tree building and management
• OCI Support - Container image integration

Phase 4: Integration & Testing 🧪

• Comprehensive Testing - Unit, integration, and system tests
• Performance Optimization - Caching, parallelization, and optimization
• Monitoring & Logging - System health and debugging
• Production Deployment - Systemd integration and packaging

🔍 Finding What You Need

For Developers New to apt-ostree

1. Start with Getting Started
2. Review Architecture Overview
3. Explore CLI Commands

For rpm-ostree Developers

1. Check CLI-Daemon Separation
2. Review Responsibility Analysis
3. Compare with rpm-ostree Architecture

For System Administrators

1. Review Command Reference
2. Check Configuration
3. Read Troubleshooting

For Package Maintainers

1. Review Packaging
2. Check Deployment Guide
3. Read Configuration

📖 Documentation Standards

Each architecture document follows a consistent structure:

• Overview - High-level system description
• Architecture - Component separation and responsibilities
• Implementation - Detailed code examples and workflows
• Security - Security considerations and Polkit integration
• Performance - Optimization strategies and caching
• Testing - Testing approaches and examples
• Future - Enhancement roadmap and considerations

🤝 Contributing

When adding new features or updating existing ones:

1. Update the relevant architecture document with detailed implementation
2. Add cross-references to related systems
3. Update this navigation guide if adding new major systems
4. Follow the documentation standards for consistency

📞 Getting Help

• Architecture Questions: Check the relevant architecture document
• Implementation Issues: Review the implementation guides
• Quick Reference: Use the reference materials
• Development: Follow the development workflow guide

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This navigation guide provides a comprehensive overview of the apt-ostree daemon plan architecture. Each document contains detailed implementation information while maintaining clear organization and discoverability.

🔄 Documentation Maintenance

Adding New Systems

When adding new major systems:

1. Create detailed architecture document in architecture/ directory
2. Add cross-references to related systems
3. Update this README with new system description
4. Add implementation roadmap for the new system

Updating Existing Systems

When updating existing systems:

1. Update the relevant architecture document
2. Ensure cross-references remain accurate
3. Update implementation roadmap if needed
4. Verify navigation links still work

Cross-Reference Management

Each architecture document should include:

• Related Documents section with links to related systems
• Implementation Roadmap with phased development plan
• Cross-references to related functionality in other documents