ostree

Initialize a repository

$ ostree init --repo [path/to/repo]

$ ostree commit --repo [path/to/repo] --branch [branch_name]

$ ostree ls --repo [path/to/repo] [commit_id]

$ ostree show --repo [path/to/repo] [commit_id]

$ ostree log --repo [path/to/repo] [branch_name]

$ ostree summary --repo [path/to/repo] --view

$ ostree refs --repo [path/to/repo]

ostree command [options]

ostree is a version control system for binary files, optimized for managing operating system root filesystems. Unlike git (which tracks text files), OSTree efficiently handles the large binary files and hard links common in OS trees.
OSTree is the foundation for immutable, image-based operating systems like Fedora Silverblue, Fedora CoreOS, and Endless OS. It enables atomic upgrades, rollbacks, and multiple parallel deployments of the operating system.
The system uses content-addressed storage (like git) with deduplication, making it efficient for storing multiple OS versions that share most files.

init

Initialize a new repository

Create a new commit

Check out a commit to a directory

List files in a commit

Show commit metadata

Show commit history

List available refs (branches)

Show or update repository summary

Pull from a remote repository

Manage system deployments (for bootable trees)

Path to the repository

Branch name for operations

Repository format is not compatible with git. System deployments (bootable trees) require additional configuration through ostree admin. Large commits can take significant disk space initially before deduplication. Not designed for arbitrary binary files; optimized for filesystem trees.

OSTree was developed by Colin Walters at Red Hat, initially for GNOME's continuous integration system. It evolved into the foundation for Fedora's immutable desktop variants and container-focused distributions.

rpm-ostree(1), flatpak(1), podman(1)