Buildah

A tool that facilitates building OCI container images.

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Overview

Buildah is a command-line tool for building Open Container Initiative (OCI) images. It is designed to be a flexible and scriptable tool that does not require a running container daemon. Buildah's commands replicate all of the commands that are found in a Dockerfile, allowing for fine-grained control over image creation.

✨ Key Features

  • Daemonless image builds
  • Builds images from Dockerfiles or from scratch
  • Fine-grained control over image layers
  • Rootless builds for improved security
  • Can be used within scripts for automation

🎯 Key Differentiators

  • Daemonless operation enhances security and simplifies use in CI/CD.
  • Allows building images without Dockerfiles for more control.
  • Part of the integrated containers/toolbox ecosystem with Podman and Skopeo.

Unique Value: Provides a secure, flexible, and scriptable way to build OCI container images without the overhead and security implications of a container daemon.

🎯 Use Cases (4)

Building container images in CI/CD pipelines Creating secure and minimal container images Debugging image build processes Replacing `docker build` in automated workflows

✅ Best For

  • Building container images inside a Kubernetes cluster without requiring a privileged Docker daemon

💡 Check With Vendor

Verify these considerations match your specific requirements:

  • Running or managing containers (this is Podman's role)
  • Users who prefer a graphical interface for building images

🏆 Alternatives

Docker build Kaniko img

Unlike `docker build`, Buildah does not require a daemon. Compared to Kaniko, it is more flexible and can build images from scratch without a Dockerfile, offering more granular control.

💻 Platforms

Linux

✅ Offline Mode Available

🔌 Integrations

Podman Skopeo Jenkins GitLab CI

💰 Pricing

Contact for pricing
Free Tier Available

Free tier: Buildah is free and open-source software.

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