# BootC Documentation

## Overview

BootC is a container-native bootable image system that provides an alternative approach to immutable system management. It allows running container images as bootable systems, providing a bridge between container technology and traditional system booting.

## BootC Alternative Script

The `bootc-alternative.sh` script provides:
- **Container Boot Support**: Boot from container images
- **Image Management**: Manage bootable container images
- **System Integration**: Integrate container images with bootloader
- **Update Management**: Handle container image updates
- **Status Information**: Get system status and image information

## Key Features

- **Container Native**: Uses standard container images as bootable systems
- **Immutable Design**: Container images are immutable and atomic
- **Update Management**: Atomic updates with rollback support
- **Boot Integration**: Seamless integration with standard bootloaders
- **OCI Compatibility**: Works with standard OCI container images

## Documentation Files

### Core Documentation
- **[bootc-guide.md](bootc-guide.md)** - Comprehensive user guide
- **[bootc-api.md](bootc-api.md)** - API reference and command documentation
- **[bootc-architecture.md](bootc-architecture.md)** - Technical architecture details

### Technical Documentation
- **[bootc-performance.md](bootc-performance.md)** - Performance considerations and optimization
- **[bootc-troubleshooting.md](bootc-troubleshooting.md)** - Common issues and solutions
- **[bootc-migration.md](bootc-migration.md)** - Migration from other boot systems

## Quick Start

```bash
# Install a container image as bootable system
bootc-alternative.sh install my-container:latest

# List installed bootable images
bootc-alternative.sh list

# Update to a new container image
bootc-alternative.sh update my-container:v2.0

# Rollback to previous image
bootc-alternative.sh rollback

# Get system status
bootc-alternative.sh status
```

## Integration

BootC integrates with:
- **apt-layer.sh**: For layer management within container images
- **bootloader-integration.sh**: For boot entry management
- **oci-integration.sh**: For OCI image handling
- **ublue-config.sh**: For unified configuration

## Architecture

BootC provides:
- **Container Boot**: Boot directly from container images
- **Immutable Updates**: Atomic updates with rollback support
- **Layer Management**: Support for layered container images
- **Boot Integration**: Standard bootloader compatibility
- **Update Management**: Automated update and rollback

## Performance Characteristics

- **Boot Performance**: Fast boot times from optimized container images
- **Update Performance**: Efficient delta updates between container layers
- **Storage Efficiency**: Layer deduplication and compression
- **Memory Usage**: Optimized memory usage for container boot

## Security Features

- **Immutable Images**: Container images cannot be modified at runtime
- **Atomic Updates**: All-or-nothing update semantics
- **Rollback Support**: Easy rollback to previous images
- **Integrity Verification**: Optional integrity checking

## Development Status

BootC is in development with:
- 🔄 Container boot support (in progress)
- 🔄 Image management (in progress)
- 🔄 Boot integration (planned)
- 🔄 Update management (planned)
- 🔄 Security features (planned)

For more information, see the individual documentation files listed above.