diff --git a/src/apt-layer/config/apt-layer-settings.json b/src/apt-layer/config/apt-layer-settings.json
index 84c49d7..cb92778 100644
--- a/src/apt-layer/config/apt-layer-settings.json
+++ b/src/apt-layer/config/apt-layer-settings.json
@@ -8,6 +8,26 @@
     "audit_reporting": true,
     "layer_signing": true
   },
+  "container_runtimes": {
+    "supported": ["skopeo", "podman", "docker", "systemd-nspawn"],
+    "preference_order": ["skopeo", "podman", "docker", "systemd-nspawn"],
+    "skopeo": {
+      "description": "OCI-focused container operations",
+      "primary_use": "oci_integration"
+    },
+    "podman": {
+      "description": "Rootless container runtime",
+      "primary_use": "general"
+    },
+    "docker": {
+      "description": "Traditional container runtime",
+      "primary_use": "general"
+    },
+    "systemd-nspawn": {
+      "description": "Systemd-based container runtime",
+      "primary_use": "fallback"
+    }
+  },
   "log_level": "info",
   "color_output": true
 } 
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/apt-layer/scriptlets/00-header.sh b/src/apt-layer/scriptlets/00-header.sh
index 8daed57..4c28f84 100644
--- a/src/apt-layer/scriptlets/00-header.sh
+++ b/src/apt-layer/scriptlets/00-header.sh
@@ -70,7 +70,8 @@ BUILD_DIR="/var/lib/particle-os/build"
 LIVE_OVERLAY_DIR="/var/lib/particle-os/live-overlay"
 COMPOSEFS_DIR="/var/lib/particle-os/composefs"
 COMPOSEFS_SCRIPT="/usr/local/bin/composefs-alternative.sh"
-CONTAINER_RUNTIME="podman"
+# Container runtime will be detected dynamically based on configuration
+CONTAINER_RUNTIME=""
 
 # Transaction state variables
 TRANSACTION_ID=""
@@ -515,14 +516,14 @@ get_system_info() {
     echo "Architecture: $(uname -m)"
     echo "Available modules:"
     if modprobe -n squashfs >/dev/null 2>&1; then
-        echo "  â squashfs module available"
+        echo "  � squashfs module available"
     else
-        echo "  â squashfs module not available"
+        echo "  � squashfs module not available"
     fi
     if modprobe -n overlay >/dev/null 2>&1; then
-        echo "  â overlay module available"
+        echo "  � overlay module available"
     else
-        echo "  â overlay module not available"
+        echo "  � overlay module not available"
     fi
 }
 
diff --git a/src/apt-layer/scriptlets/02-transactions.sh b/src/apt-layer/scriptlets/02-transactions.sh
index cc0e870..98d7f9f 100644
--- a/src/apt-layer/scriptlets/02-transactions.sh
+++ b/src/apt-layer/scriptlets/02-transactions.sh
@@ -84,8 +84,8 @@ export APT_LAYER_LOG_FILE="$APT_LAYER_LOG_DIR/apt-layer.log"
 export APT_LAYER_SIGNING_ENABLED="false"
 export APT_LAYER_VERIFY_SIGNATURES="false"
 
-# Container settings
-export APT_LAYER_CONTAINER_RUNTIME="podman"
+# Container settings - will be set dynamically
+export APT_LAYER_CONTAINER_RUNTIME=""
 export APT_LAYER_CHROOT_ENABLED="true"
 
 # Default package sources
diff --git a/src/apt-layer/scriptlets/04-container.sh b/src/apt-layer/scriptlets/04-container.sh
index d304e98..02b9aac 100644
--- a/src/apt-layer/scriptlets/04-container.sh
+++ b/src/apt-layer/scriptlets/04-container.sh
@@ -6,28 +6,86 @@
 detect_container_runtime() {
     log_info "Detecting container runtime" "apt-layer"
     
-    # Check for podman first (preferred for rootless)
+    # Get configured default runtime
+    local configured_runtime
+    if [[ -f "$CONFIG_DIR/apt-layer-settings.json" ]]; then
+        configured_runtime=$(jq -r '.default_container_runtime // empty' "$CONFIG_DIR/apt-layer-settings.json" 2>/dev/null)
+    fi
+    
+    # If configured runtime is specified and available, use it
+    if [[ -n "$configured_runtime" ]]; then
+        case "$configured_runtime" in
+            podman)
+                if command -v podman &> /dev/null; then
+                    CONTAINER_RUNTIME="podman"
+                    log_info "Using configured container runtime: podman" "apt-layer"
+                    return 0
+                else
+                    log_warning "Configured runtime 'podman' not found, falling back to detection" "apt-layer"
+                fi
+                ;;
+            docker)
+                if command -v docker &> /dev/null; then
+                    CONTAINER_RUNTIME="docker"
+                    log_info "Using configured container runtime: docker" "apt-layer"
+                    return 0
+                else
+                    log_warning "Configured runtime 'docker' not found, falling back to detection" "apt-layer"
+                fi
+                ;;
+            systemd-nspawn)
+                if command -v systemd-nspawn &> /dev/null; then
+                    CONTAINER_RUNTIME="systemd-nspawn"
+                    log_info "Using configured container runtime: systemd-nspawn" "apt-layer"
+                    return 0
+                else
+                    log_warning "Configured runtime 'systemd-nspawn' not found, falling back to detection" "apt-layer"
+                fi
+                ;;
+            skopeo)
+                if command -v skopeo &> /dev/null; then
+                    CONTAINER_RUNTIME="skopeo"
+                    log_info "Using configured container runtime: skopeo" "apt-layer"
+                    return 0
+                else
+                    log_warning "Configured runtime 'skopeo' not found, falling back to detection" "apt-layer"
+                fi
+                ;;
+        esac
+    fi
+    
+    # Auto-detection fallback (in order of preference)
+    log_info "Auto-detecting container runtime" "apt-layer"
+    
+    # Check for skopeo first (preferred for OCI operations)
+    if command -v skopeo &> /dev/null; then
+        CONTAINER_RUNTIME="skopeo"
+        log_info "Auto-detected skopeo as container runtime" "apt-layer"
+        return 0
+    fi
+    
+    # Check for podman (preferred for rootless)
     if command -v podman &> /dev/null; then
         CONTAINER_RUNTIME="podman"
-        log_info "Using podman as container runtime" "apt-layer"
+        log_info "Auto-detected podman as container runtime" "apt-layer"
         return 0
     fi
     
     # Fallback to docker
     if command -v docker &> /dev/null; then
         CONTAINER_RUNTIME="docker"
-        log_info "Using docker as container runtime" "apt-layer"
+        log_info "Auto-detected docker as container runtime" "apt-layer"
         return 0
     fi
     
     # Check for systemd-nspawn as last resort
     if command -v systemd-nspawn &> /dev/null; then
         CONTAINER_RUNTIME="systemd-nspawn"
-        log_info "Using systemd-nspawn as container runtime" "apt-layer"
+        log_info "Auto-detected systemd-nspawn as container runtime" "apt-layer"
         return 0
     fi
     
-    log_error "No supported container runtime found (podman, docker, or systemd-nspawn)" "apt-layer"
+    log_error "No supported container runtime found (skopeo, podman, docker, or systemd-nspawn)" "apt-layer"
     return 1
 }
 
@@ -45,6 +103,9 @@ init_container_system() {
         return 1
     fi
     
+    # Set global container runtime variables
+    set_global_container_runtime_vars
+    
     # Ensure workspace directories exist
     mkdir -p "$WORKSPACE"/{images,temp,containers}
     
@@ -52,6 +113,37 @@ init_container_system() {
     return 0
 }
 
+# Set global container runtime variables
+set_global_container_runtime_vars() {
+    log_debug "Setting global container runtime variables" "apt-layer"
+    
+    # Set variables used throughout the system
+    export APT_LAYER_CONTAINER_RUNTIME="$CONTAINER_RUNTIME"
+    export PARTICLE_CONTAINER_RUNTIME="$CONTAINER_RUNTIME"
+    
+    # Set runtime-specific variables
+    case "$CONTAINER_RUNTIME" in
+        skopeo)
+            export CONTAINER_RUNTIME_TYPE="oci"
+            export CONTAINER_RUNTIME_DESCRIPTION="OCI-focused container operations"
+            ;;
+        podman)
+            export CONTAINER_RUNTIME_TYPE="general"
+            export CONTAINER_RUNTIME_DESCRIPTION="Rootless container runtime"
+            ;;
+        docker)
+            export CONTAINER_RUNTIME_TYPE="general"
+            export CONTAINER_RUNTIME_DESCRIPTION="Traditional container runtime"
+            ;;
+        systemd-nspawn)
+            export CONTAINER_RUNTIME_TYPE="fallback"
+            export CONTAINER_RUNTIME_DESCRIPTION="Systemd-based container runtime"
+            ;;
+    esac
+    
+    log_debug "Container runtime variables set: $CONTAINER_RUNTIME ($CONTAINER_RUNTIME_TYPE)" "apt-layer"
+}
+
 # Validate container runtime capabilities
 validate_container_runtime() {
     local runtime="$1"
@@ -59,6 +151,12 @@ validate_container_runtime() {
     log_info "Validating container runtime: $runtime" "apt-layer"
     
     case "$runtime" in
+        skopeo)
+            if ! skopeo --version &> /dev/null; then
+                log_error "skopeo is not properly configured" "apt-layer"
+                return 1
+            fi
+            ;;
         podman)
             if ! podman info &> /dev/null; then
                 log_error "podman is not properly configured" "apt-layer"
@@ -205,6 +303,12 @@ container_install_packages() {
     
     # Run package installation in container
     case "$CONTAINER_RUNTIME" in
+        skopeo)
+            if ! run_skopeo_install "$base_image" "$container_name" "$temp_dir" "${packages[@]}"; then
+                rollback_transaction
+                return 1
+            fi
+            ;;
         podman)
             if ! run_podman_install "$base_image" "$container_name" "$temp_dir" "${packages[@]}"; then
                 rollback_transaction
@@ -241,6 +345,49 @@ container_install_packages() {
     return 0
 }
 
+# Skopeo-based package installation (OCI-focused)
+run_skopeo_install() {
+    local base_image="$1"
+    local container_name="$2"
+    local temp_dir="$3"
+    shift 3
+    local packages=("$@")
+    
+    log_info "Running skopeo-based installation" "apt-layer"
+    
+    # Skopeo is primarily for OCI operations, so we'll use it with a minimal container
+    # For package installation, we'll fall back to a chroot-based approach
+    
+    # Create minimal container structure
+    mkdir -p "$temp_dir"/{bin,lib,lib64,usr,etc,var}
+    
+    # Set up base filesystem
+    if [[ -d "$WORKSPACE/images/$base_image" ]]; then
+        # Use ComposeFS image as base
+        log_info "Using ComposeFS image as base for skopeo" "apt-layer"
+        cp -a "$WORKSPACE/images/$base_image"/* "$temp_dir/" 2>/dev/null || true
+    else
+        # Use minimal Ubuntu base
+        log_info "Using minimal Ubuntu base for skopeo" "apt-layer"
+        # Copy essential files
+        cp -a /bin/bash "$temp_dir/bin/"
+        cp -a /lib/x86_64-linux-gnu "$temp_dir/lib/"
+        cp -a /usr/bin/apt-get "$temp_dir/usr/bin/"
+        # Add minimal /etc structure
+        echo "deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ jammy main" > "$temp_dir/etc/apt/sources.list"
+    fi
+    
+    # Install packages using chroot
+    local install_cmd="apt-get update && apt-get install -y ${packages[*]} && apt-get clean"
+    if ! chroot "$temp_dir" /bin/bash -c "$install_cmd"; then
+        log_error "Package installation failed in skopeo container" "apt-layer"
+        return 1
+    fi
+    
+    log_success "Skopeo-based installation completed" "apt-layer"
+    return 0
+}
+
 # Podman-based package installation
 run_podman_install() {
     local base_image="$1"
@@ -558,6 +705,10 @@ container_status() {
     echo "Runtime: $CONTAINER_RUNTIME"
     
     case "$CONTAINER_RUNTIME" in
+        skopeo)
+            echo "Skopeo version: $(skopeo --version 2>/dev/null || echo 'Not available')"
+            echo "Skopeo info: OCI-focused container operations"
+            ;;
         podman)
             echo "Podman version: $(podman --version 2>/dev/null || echo 'Not available')"
             echo "Podman info: $(podman info --format json 2>/dev/null | jq -r '.host.arch // "Unknown"' 2>/dev/null || echo 'Unknown')"
diff --git a/src/apt-layer/scriptlets/24-dpkg-direct-install.sh b/src/apt-layer/scriptlets/24-dpkg-direct-install.sh
index 38e13af..d03e6aa 100644
--- a/src/apt-layer/scriptlets/24-dpkg-direct-install.sh
+++ b/src/apt-layer/scriptlets/24-dpkg-direct-install.sh
@@ -153,6 +153,12 @@ container_dpkg_install() {
     
     # Run dpkg installation in container
     case "$CONTAINER_RUNTIME" in
+        skopeo)
+            if ! run_skopeo_dpkg_install "$base_image" "$container_name" "$temp_dir" "${packages[@]}"; then
+                rollback_transaction
+                return 1
+            fi
+            ;;
         podman)
             if ! run_podman_dpkg_install "$base_image" "$container_name" "$temp_dir" "${packages[@]}"; then
                 rollback_transaction
@@ -209,6 +215,56 @@ container_dpkg_install() {
     return 0
 }
 
+# Skopeo-based dpkg installation (OCI-focused)
+run_skopeo_dpkg_install() {
+    local base_image="$1"
+    local container_name="$2"
+    local temp_dir="$3"
+    shift 3
+    local packages=("$@")
+    
+    log_info "Running skopeo-based dpkg installation" "apt-layer"
+    
+    # Skopeo is primarily for OCI operations, so we'll use chroot for package installation
+    # Create minimal container structure
+    mkdir -p "$temp_dir"/{bin,lib,lib64,usr,etc,var}
+    
+    # Set up base filesystem
+    if [[ -d "$WORKSPACE/images/$base_image" ]]; then
+        # Use ComposeFS image as base
+        log_info "Using ComposeFS image as base for skopeo dpkg" "apt-layer"
+        cp -a "$WORKSPACE/images/$base_image"/* "$temp_dir/" 2>/dev/null || true
+    else
+        # Use minimal Ubuntu base
+        log_info "Using minimal Ubuntu base for skopeo dpkg" "apt-layer"
+        # Copy essential files
+        cp -a /bin/bash "$temp_dir/bin/"
+        cp -a /lib/x86_64-linux-gnu "$temp_dir/lib/"
+        cp -a /usr/bin/dpkg "$temp_dir/usr/bin/"
+        cp -a /usr/bin/apt-get "$temp_dir/usr/bin/"
+        # Add minimal /etc structure
+        echo "deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ jammy main" > "$temp_dir/etc/apt/sources.list"
+    fi
+    
+    # Download and install packages using dpkg
+    local install_cmd="
+        apt-get update && 
+        apt-get download ${packages[*]} && 
+        dpkg -i *.deb && 
+        apt-get install -f && 
+        dpkg --configure -a && 
+        apt-get clean
+    "
+    
+    if ! chroot "$temp_dir" /bin/bash -c "$install_cmd"; then
+        log_error "dpkg installation failed in skopeo container" "apt-layer"
+        return 1
+    fi
+    
+    log_success "Skopeo-based dpkg installation completed" "apt-layer"
+    return 0
+}
+
 # Podman-based dpkg installation
 run_podman_dpkg_install() {
     local base_image="$1"
diff --git a/src/apt-layer/scriptlets/99-main.sh b/src/apt-layer/scriptlets/99-main.sh
index a2e2bfd..f9fc74e 100644
--- a/src/apt-layer/scriptlets/99-main.sh
+++ b/src/apt-layer/scriptlets/99-main.sh
@@ -668,7 +668,8 @@ PARTICLE_COMPOSEFS_DIR="$PARTICLE_WORKSPACE/composefs"
 PARTICLE_COMPOSEFS_SCRIPT="/usr/local/bin/composefs-alternative.sh"
 
 # Container configuration
-PARTICLE_CONTAINER_RUNTIME="podman"
+# Container runtime will be detected dynamically
+PARTICLE_CONTAINER_RUNTIME=""
 PARTICLE_CONTAINER_WORKSPACE="$PARTICLE_WORKSPACE/containers"
 
 # Live overlay configuration