Changes/DNFAndBootcInImageModeFedora

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= DNF and bootc in Image Mode Fedora variants

This is a proposed Change for Fedora Linux.
This document represents a proposed Change. As part of the Changes process, proposals are publicly announced in order to receive community feedback. This proposal will only be implemented if approved by the Fedora Engineering Steering Committee.

Summary

Enhance the image-mode Fedora user experience by providing familiar dnf commands on client side and inside a docker build. Provide DNF5 alongside rpm-ostree while we slowly port functionality from rpm-ostree to DNF5.

DNF5 can be used in most cases during container builds (Containerfile/Dockerfiles) for a familiar UX, initially DNF will point users to use rpm-ostree on a booted image-based/ostree system.

For Fedora 41, will provide DNF5 on image-based Fedora variants (Atomic desktops, Fedora IoT, etc). We will update all layering examples to use dnf during build time when possible. Additionally to DNF we will still provide rpm-ostree as the main tool for package layering on the client side and bootc to manage transactional, in-place operating system updates using OCI/Docker container images.

DNF5 will provide a helpful error when running on an ostree/image-based booted system pointing to use rpm-ostree or to unlock the system.

Owner

• Name: Joseph Marrero
• Email: jmarrero@fedoraproject.org

Current status

DNF5 when installed on a image-based/ostree system can be used to install rpms if the system is unlocked, it also works on most container builds, one major exception at the moment are kernel installations and kernel updates. DNF is not part of image variants at the moment, however CoreOS is exploring adding it via: https://github.com/coreos/fedora-coreos-tracker/issues/1687

Bootc allows system admins to deploy bootable containers and it's available on the Fedora repositories.

• Targeted release: Fedora Linux 41
• Last updated: 2024-05-07
• [Announced]
• [<will be assigned by the Wrangler> Discussion thread]
• FESCo issue: <will be assigned by the Wrangler>
• Tracker bug: <will be assigned by the Wrangler>
• Release notes tracker: <will be assigned by the Wrangler>

Scope

• Proposal owners:

• Other developers:

• Release engineering: #Releng issue number

• Policies and guidelines: N/A (not needed for this Change)

• Trademark approval: N/A (not needed for this Change)

• Alignment with the Fedora Strategy:

Early Testing (Optional)

Do you require 'QA Blueprint' support? Y/N

Contingency Plan

• Contingency mechanism: (What to do? Who will do it?) N/A (not a System Wide Change)
• Contingency deadline: N/A (not a System Wide Change)
• Blocks release? N/A (not a System Wide Change), Yes/No

Documentation

N/A (not a System Wide Change)