robojerk 526f1c1afd Initial commit: Comprehensive Debian bootc documentation

- Complete documentation for all bootc commands and subcommands
- Debian-specific adaptations and workarounds
- Manual installation methods to bypass bootc reliability issues
- Technical guides with Rust source code analysis
- Flowcharts and external command references
- Hidden command documentation (bootc internals, state, etc.)
- Composefs integration analysis
- Base image creation guides (with and without bootc binary)
- Management scripts and automation
- Comprehensive troubleshooting and examples

2025-09-15 14:02:28 -07:00

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Installation

Base Images

Many users will be more interested in base (container) images for Debian.

Debian

Currently, the Debian bootc project is focused on providing bootc support for Debian-based systems.

For pre-built base images, any Debian derivative can be converted to use bootc. However, since bootc is not yet available as a Debian package, you'll need to compile it from source.

Prerequisites

Debian 14 (Forky) or later
Systemd as the init system
Root access for installation
Development tools and dependencies for compiling bootc

Installation Steps

Install build dependencies:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install -y build-essential git pkg-config libostree-dev libglib2.0-dev libgpgme-dev libseccomp-dev

Install runtime dependencies:
```
sudo apt install -y ostree podman
```

Clone and build bootc:

git clone https://github.com/containers/bootc.git
cd bootc
make
sudo make install

Verify installation:
```
bootc --version
```

Converting Existing Debian Systems

Converting an existing Debian system to use bootc requires careful planning:

Backup your system - This is a major change to how your OS updates work
Prepare a bootc-compatible base image - This should be based on your current Debian installation
Test the conversion process - Use a virtual machine or test system first
Execute the conversion - Follow the bootc conversion guide for Debian

Debian-Specific Considerations

Source Compilation: Since bootc is not packaged for Debian yet, you'll need to compile from source
Package Management: bootc works alongside apt for application packages while managing the base OS through container images
Configuration: System configuration follows Debian conventions with /etc for machine-local settings
Services: systemd services work normally, with bootc managing the base OS layer
Updates: OS updates are handled through bootc, while application updates continue to use apt
Development Status: This is experimental software - use with caution in production environments

Other Distributions

bootc itself is not tied to Debian derivatives; this issue tracks the main blocker for other distributions. However, Debian provides a solid foundation for bootc implementation due to its:

Mature package management system
Strong systemd integration
Extensive hardware support
Long-term support releases

The Linux Foundation® (TLF) has registered trademarks and uses trademarks. For a list of TLF trademarks, see Trademark Usage.

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