ostree

version control system for binary files, optimized for managing operating system root filesystems

TLDR

Initialize a repository

$ ostree init --repo [path/to/repo]

Create a commit (snapshot) of the files

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

Show files in a commit

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

Show metadata of a commit

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

Show list of commits (log)

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

Show repo summary

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

Show available refs (branches)

$ ostree refs --repo [path/to/repo]

SYNOPSIS

ostree [global-options] command [command-options] [arguments]

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.

PARAMETERS

init

Initialize a new repository

commit

Create a new commit

checkout

Check out a commit to a directory

List files in a commit

show

Show commit metadata

log

Show commit history

refs

List available refs (branches)

summary

Show or update repository summary

diff

Show differences between two commits

cat

Display file contents from a commit

prune

Search for unreachable objects and delete them

remote

Manage remote repository configuration

pull

Pull from a remote repository

fsck

Check repository for consistency

static-delta

Manage static deltas between commits

admin

Manage system deployments (for bootable trees)

--repo _path_

Path to the repository

--verbose

Enable verbose output

--version

Print version and exit

CAVEATS

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.

HISTORY

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.