Open Build Service

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What Open Build Service is

Open Build Service (OBS) automates building and distributing binary packages from source code. Each package is built in a fresh jailed environment, and successful builds trigger rebuilds of dependent packages. It can produce packages, updates, add-ons, appliances, and full distributions for different operating systems and hardware architectures. Documented outputs include RPM, DEB, and Arch packages, with recipes in formats such as spec, dsc, KIWI, preinstallimage, SimpleImage, and mkosi.

Teams can manage access, branch work, submit merge requests, and review submissions. GitHub.com and GitLab.com workflows are supported, along with self-hosted GitHub, GitLab, and Gitea when network connectivity permits. The API gives clients and external services access to OBS resources; the osc command-line client edits sources and metadata, starts builds, and gathers results. OBS is GPL-licensed free software, available on its reference server for open-source developers or for installation on your own hardware or in a data center. Its reference server supports package builds for distributions including openSUSE, Debian, Fedora, Ubuntu, Arch, Red Hat Enterprise Linux, and SUSE Linux Enterprise.

Who it suits

OBS suits packagers, free software projects, and independent software vendors that need to build and distribute packages. Its beginner guide recommends basic Linux and command-line knowledge.

What it does well

Free GPL-licensed software.
Builds packages in fresh jailed environments.
Rebuilds dependent packages after successful builds.
Supports multiple package and recipe formats.
Offers an API and osc command-line client.

What to know first

The beginner guide recommends basic Linux and command-line knowledge.
Self-hosted SCM integrations depend on network connectivity.
The downloadable appliance deployment overwrites the target disk.

Plans

Plan	Billed and limits	Price
Open Build Service	Free software licensed under GPL · reference server available for open source developers · can be installed on your own hardware	Free

As openbuildservice.org lists them, read 7 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.

Getting started

Visit the Open Build Service website.
Use the reference server if you are an open-source developer, or install OBS on your own hardware or in your data center.
For an appliance deployment, download the openSUSE Leap 16.0 appliance with the server and OBS components; deployment overwrites the target disk.
Use OBS through its web interface, API, or the osc command-line client.
Connect GitHub.com or GitLab.com workflows, or self-hosted GitHub, GitLab, or Gitea where network connectivity works.

Verdict

OBS provides package building, distribution, and collaboration workflows for projects targeting multiple operating systems and architectures. It is available through a reference server or as software to install on your own infrastructure.

Questions

How much does Open Build Service cost?

The listed plan is free. OBS is free software licensed under the GPL.

Can I use OBS without hosting it myself?

A reference server is available to open-source developers. OBS can also be installed on your own hardware or in a data center.

Which package formats and build recipes does it support?

Documented package formats include RPM, DEB, and Arch packages. Recipe formats include spec, dsc, KIWI, preinstallimage, SimpleImage, and mkosi.

What platforms and distributions does OBS support?

OBS is available through API, Linux, self-hosted, and web platforms. The reference server supports package builds for openSUSE, Debian, Fedora, Ubuntu, Arch, Red Hat Enterprise Linux, and SUSE Linux Enterprise.

How can I get help or commercial support?

Community help is available through OBS IRC and a mailing list. Listed partners offer commercial consulting, training, or SLA support; the project says it has no product or service offering of its own.

Facts from Open Build Service's own pages

API and CLI: The OBS API lets clients and external services use OBS resources, and the osc command-line client can edit sources and metadata, trigger builds, and gather results. · openbuildservice.org, 7 Oct 2026
Appliance: The downloadable appliance bundles openSUSE Leap 16.0 with the server and OBS components needed to run an instance. · openbuildservice.org, 7 Oct 2026
Build isolation: Each package is built in a fresh jailed environment, and successful builds trigger rebuilds of dependent packages. · openbuildservice.org, 7 Oct 2026
Collaboration: OBS supports fine-grained access rights, branching, merge requests, and submission reviews. · openbuildservice.org, 7 Oct 2026
Command-line client: The osc command-line client can edit sources and metadata, trigger builds, and gather results. · openbuildservice.org, 7 Oct 2026
Dependency rebuilds: After a successful build, OBS rebuilds the packages that depend on it. · openbuildservice.org, 7 Oct 2026
Distribution coverage: The reference server supports package builds for openSUSE, Debian, Fedora, Ubuntu, Arch, Red Hat Enterprise Linux, and SUSE Linux Enterprise. · openbuildservice.org, 7 Oct 2026
Founded: 2005 · openbuildservice.org, 28 Sept 2026
Hosting: The reference server is available to open-source developers and is used to build, release, and maintain the openSUSE distribution. · openbuildservice.org, 7 Oct 2026
Integrations: The OBS API lets clients and external services interface with OBS resources. · openbuildservice.org, 7 Oct 2026
Intended users: The project describes OBS as serving packagers, free software projects, and independent software vendors. · openbuildservice.org, 7 Oct 2026
License: OBS is free software licensed under the GNU General Public License (GPL), and can be installed on users’ own hardware or in their data center. · openbuildservice.org, 7 Oct 2026
Outputs: It can release packages, updates, add-ons, appliances, and entire distributions for a range of operating systems and hardware architectures. · openbuildservice.org, 7 Oct 2026
Package building: OBS builds and distributes binary packages from sources automatically, consistently, and reproducibly. · openbuildservice.org, 7 Oct 2026
Package formats: The documented package formats include RPM, DEB, and Arch packages; build recipe formats include spec, dsc, KIWI, preinstallimage, SimpleImage, and mkosi. · openbuildservice.org, 7 Oct 2026
Purpose: OBS automatically builds and distributes binary packages from source code in a consistent and reproducible way. · openbuildservice.org, 7 Oct 2026
Release outputs: It can release packages, updates, add-ons, appliances, and entire distributions across operating systems and hardware architectures. · openbuildservice.org, 7 Oct 2026
SCM integrations: SCM/CI workflows support GitHub.com and GitLab.com, plus self-hosted GitHub, GitLab, and Gitea instances when network connectivity works. · openbuildservice.org, 7 Oct 2026
Security: The administrator guide recommends isolated worker networks and describes running untrusted build code in KVM or XEN virtual machines without network access. · openbuildservice.org, 7 Oct 2026
Security updates: Once users connect to a repository, maintainers can serve them maintenance or security updates and add-ons. · openbuildservice.org, 7 Oct 2026
Self-hosting: OBS can be installed on your hardware or in your data center, keeping the data under your control. · openbuildservice.org, 7 Oct 2026
Signing: When the signd daemon is enabled, OBS can sign binary results such as packages, images, containers, and metadata. · openbuildservice.org, 7 Oct 2026
Support: Community help is available through OBS IRC and a mailing list; commercial consulting, training, or SLA support is offered by listed partners, while the project says it has no product or service offering of its own. · openbuildservice.org, 7 Oct 2026

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