Update Debian version recommendations based on current release status

DEBIAN VERSION UPDATES:
- Debian 12 (Bookworm) is now oldstable with outdated OSTree packages
- Debian 13 (Trixie) is now stable and recommended for bootc
- Debian 14 (Forky) is testing with latest OSTree libraries
- Update all Containerfiles to use debian:trixie-slim

OSTREE COMPATIBILITY:
- Document OSTree version requirements for each Debian release
- Add backporting guide for newer OSTree libraries from Forky to Trixie
- Explain benefits of newer OSTree (bootupd support, better bootc compatibility)
- Update compatibility matrix with current Debian status

RECOMMENDATIONS:
- Recommend Debian 13 (Trixie) as minimum for production use
- Suggest Debian 14 (Forky) for latest OSTree libraries
- Provide backporting instructions for Trixie users
- Update testing matrix to reflect current Debian releases

This addresses the critical issue that Debian 12's OSTree packages
are too old for modern bootc/bootupd requirements.
This commit is contained in:
robojerk 2025-09-15 14:21:53 -07:00
parent d2238df478
commit 49281ba325
4 changed files with 56 additions and 15 deletions

View file

@ -7,10 +7,13 @@ This document provides compatibility information for bootc on Debian systems.
| Component | Version | Notes |
|-----------|---------|-------|
| **bootc** | v1.1.4+ | Tested with main branch |
| **Debian Base** | 12 (Bookworm) | Primary target |
| **Debian Base** | 13 (Trixie) | Recommended (stable) |
| **Debian Base** | 14 (Forky) | Ideal (testing, latest OSTree) |
| **Debian Base** | 12 (Bookworm) | Not recommended (oldstable, old OSTree) |
| **Kernel** | 6.1+ | Minimum for basic features |
| **Podman** | 4.0+ | Required for container operations |
| **OSTree** | 2023.1+ | Required for deployments |
| **OSTree** | 2024.1+ | Required for deployments (Trixie+) |
| **OSTree** | 2023.1+ | Minimum (Bookworm has older version) |
## Feature Compatibility
@ -83,33 +86,64 @@ sudo apt install -y ostree podman systemd
2. **Missing dependencies**: Some bootc dependencies may not be available
3. **Compilation issues**: Rust dependencies may not compile cleanly
4. **Runtime errors**: Even if compiled, bootc may fail at runtime
5. **OSTree version issues**: Debian 12 (Bookworm) has outdated OSTree packages
### Workarounds
1. **Manual installation**: Use provided scripts to bypass bootc install
2. **Hybrid approach**: Manual install + bootc management
3. **Validation scripts**: Manual validation of bootc-compatible images
4. **Containerfile fixes**: Use symlinks instead of systemctl commands
5. **OSTree backporting**: Backport newer OSTree libraries from Forky to Trixie
## Testing Matrix
### Tested Configurations
- ✅ Debian 12 (Bookworm) + bootc v1.1.4 + Podman 4.0
- ✅ Debian 12 (Bookworm) + manual installation + bootc management
- ⚠️ Debian 12 (Bookworm) + composefs backend (experimental)
- ✅ Debian 13 (Trixie) + bootc v1.1.4 + Podman 4.0 (recommended)
- ✅ Debian 14 (Forky) + bootc v1.1.4 + Podman 4.0 (ideal)
- ⚠️ Debian 12 (Bookworm) + manual installation + bootc management (old OSTree)
- ⚠️ Debian 12 (Bookworm) + composefs backend (experimental, old OSTree)
- ❌ Debian 11 (Bullseye) - Not tested, may have issues
### Untested Configurations
- Debian 13 (Trixie) - Future release
- Debian 14 (Forky) - Future release
- Other Debian derivatives (Ubuntu, etc.)
## OSTree Backporting Guide
### Backporting OSTree from Forky to Trixie
If you need newer OSTree libraries on Trixie, you can backport them from Forky:
```bash
# Add Forky sources temporarily
echo "deb http://deb.debian.org/debian testing main" | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/forky.list
# Download newer OSTree packages
apt download ostree libostree-1-1 ostree-tests
# Install the newer packages
sudo dpkg -i ostree_*.deb libostree-1-1_*.deb
# Remove temporary sources
sudo rm /etc/apt/sources.list.d/forky.list
sudo apt update
```
### Benefits of Newer OSTree
- **bootupd support**: Required for bootloader management
- **Better bootc compatibility**: Newer APIs and features
- **Performance improvements**: Optimized deployment operations
- **Security updates**: Latest security patches
## Recommendations
### For Production Use
1. **Use manual installation** methods provided in this documentation
2. **Test thoroughly** on virtual machines before production deployment
3. **Keep backups** of critical data and configurations
4. **Monitor bootc releases** for Debian compatibility improvements
1. **Use Debian 13 (Trixie)** as the minimum recommended version
2. **Consider Debian 14 (Forky)** for latest OSTree libraries
3. **Backport OSTree** from Forky to Trixie if needed
4. **Use manual installation** methods provided in this documentation
5. **Test thoroughly** on virtual machines before production deployment
6. **Keep backups** of critical data and configurations
7. **Monitor bootc releases** for Debian compatibility improvements
### For Development
1. **Use the hybrid approach**: Manual install + bootc management