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On bootc and other image-based Linux systems, software can still be installed and the system can still be customized—but the right method depends on whether the change belongs to an application, a temporary experiment, or the operating system itself. Use the distribution’s instructions for its exact release: “immutable” and “atomic” do not identify one universal package manager or command set.
What “image-based” changes about Linux
On a conventional system, a package manager typically changes files in the running operating system. In an image-based model, the operating system’s base content is delivered as a versioned image or deployment. An update prepares another deployment for boot rather than simply changing the currently running base in place.
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That does not mean the whole system is frozen. For example, Red Hat’s RHEL 10 image-mode guide describes the root filesystem as immutable by default except for /etc and /var. The exact writable locations and management tools depend on the product and its design; the word “immutable” alone is not a complete description of either.
bootc currently relies on OSTree to store the base container image, according to its filesystem documentation. bootc and rpm-ostree are related but not mutually exclusive: the bootc project says both can be used together and that rpm-ostree remains maintained. That relationship does not mean every distribution uses the tools in the same way.
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Where should a software change live?
Start with the scope of the change. An application you use is different from a package that should be part of the operating system on every boot. These broad choices describe the decision, not a command recipe that applies to every distribution.
| What you are changing | Approach to consider | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| An application for your account | Use the user-application method supported by the distribution. | Check the distro’s guidance for its preferred application formats and any restrictions of the edition you installed. |
| A service or tool that should run separately from the host OS | Consider running it in a container if that fits the workload and the distro supports your chosen workflow. | Confirm how the container is started, updated, and given access to host files or devices. |
| A local system package for testing or a specific machine | Use the distro’s supported package-layering mechanism, if it provides one. | Identify the exact release and read its instructions. rpm-ostree documents client-side package layering; that is not a universal feature of all systems called atomic. |
| A repeatable system configuration for multiple machines or rebuilds | Build a derived OS image when the target system supports that model. | Decide which packages and OS-owned configuration belong in the image, then version and deploy the result using the distro’s documented process. |
The bootc package-manager guidance treats package installation primarily as a build-time activity for image-based systems. It recommends that package managers detect a read-only /usr and guide users toward supported workflows rather than imply that ordinary in-place installation is always appropriate. See bootc’s package-manager integration guidance.
Choose between a derived image and local layering
Build the change into an image when it should be repeatable
A derived image is a good fit when the OS package set or OS-owned configuration should be reproduced consistently—for example, as part of a managed system setup. It brings those choices together in the image, so the resulting deployment can be versioned and delivered through the image-based workflow. That is more deliberate than installing an extra package on one running machine.
Package installation in an image build is not the same operation as installing packages on a deployed host. Fedora’s Fedora 41 change proposal, last updated October 2, 2024, distinguishes DNF use in container builds and unlocked systems from rpm-ostree client-side layering and bootc deployment management. It says the Fedora image-based variants covered by that proposal add bootc and DNF5 while retaining rpm-ostree. Treat this as a Fedora 41 release record, not as a guarantee about every current Fedora variant or another distribution. The proposal describes its direction this way: “This is the start of a process to enable dnf with rpm-ostree features and a re-focus on bootc to manage image mode deployments.” Read the Fedora proposal.
Layer locally when that is the supported machine-level workflow
Local package layering can be useful when a package is needed on one system and the distribution documents layering as a supported option. In the rpm-ostree model, the handbook covers layering alongside upgrades, rollbacks, rebasing, and overrides. The handbook is maintained on the project’s main branch, so confirm that its instructions match the distro and release you are using before acting. Consult the rpm-ostree administrator handbook.
The rpm-ostree handbook also documents a transient usroverlay workflow for temporary changes; it does not persist across reboot. That makes it distinct from a persistent package layer or a change made in a derived image. Because local modification commands and their support vary by system, use the target distro’s version-specific documentation rather than copying a command from another atomic system.
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What happens during updates and recovery?
In the rpm-ostree workflow, an upgrade is prepared offline as a new deployment and made the default for the next boot. The handbook also documents rollback to a prior deployment. In practical terms, an update is a candidate system to boot into, rather than a promise that every changed file is immediately replaced in the running base.
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Identify your distribution before following instructions
- Check the product and release. Record the distribution name, edition or variant, and release. “Atomic” is not enough to select a package manager.
- Classify the change. Decide whether it is a user application, a separate workload, a machine-specific system package, or repeatable OS customization.
- Find the supported workflow for that release. Confirm whether the product expects user-space installation, containers, local layering, or a derived image—and which tools it supports for each.
- Check update and recovery behavior. Read how the product stages updates, selects the next deployment, and handles rollback. Do not assume rpm-ostree behavior is identical across products.
- Back up data before consequential changes. A bootable previous deployment can help recover the OS, but does not replace a separate backup of important data.
A Fedora community discussion titled “Fedora Immutable makes sense for my case?” includes the question fragment “Why can’t I install software…” in the context of package management. It illustrates one way people describe this friction; it does not establish how common the problem is. See the discussion.
Installation depends on the target
Physical hardware, virtual machines, cloud environments, and edge devices can have different image-mode deployment paths. Do not assume that a bootc image is installed the same way everywhere.
For RHEL 10, Red Hat documents image-mode deployment options involving Anaconda and bootc-image-builder. Its guide also describes generating a bootable installer ISO, copying it to a USB flash drive, and using it for bare-metal installation. The guide labels the cited bootable ISO creation and deployment workflow Technology Preview; that status applies to this documented RHEL 10 path, not to all bootc installations. Consult the RHEL 10 image-mode guide for its prerequisites and target-specific steps.
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There is no single feature called “immutable” that establishes which distribution is best. To compare two specific products, use their current documentation and check the same practical questions for each:
Quick Recap
- Target and hardware: Is the system meant for a desktop, server, virtual machine, cloud, or edge deployment, and does it support your hardware?
- Customization: Does it favor derived image builds, local package layering, or both? Which of those is supported for the release you plan to run?
- Updates and recovery: How are updates staged, how is the next deployment selected, and what rollback mechanism is documented?
- Applications: Which application formats and installation methods are supported or recommended?
- Support model: Who maintains the distribution and provides guidance for the edition you are considering?
- Migration and compatibility: What does the release documentation say about moving between versions and preserving compatibility?
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