[ostree] doc: Update overview a bit
- From: Colin Walters <walters src gnome org>
- To: commits-list gnome org
- Cc:
- Subject: [ostree] doc: Update overview a bit
- Date: Fri, 20 Jun 2014 17:41:30 +0000 (UTC)
commit 39e4c7c6fe3f733eac715db202a97d6c2c1e5d22
Author: Colin Walters <walters verbum org>
Date: Fri Jun 20 11:59:49 2014 -0400
doc: Update overview a bit
Link to docker, note in introductory paragraph the goal of package
composition on a server.
doc/overview.xml | 44 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++----------------
1 files changed, 28 insertions(+), 16 deletions(-)
---
diff --git a/doc/overview.xml b/doc/overview.xml
index f227306..94bf9c7 100644
--- a/doc/overview.xml
+++ b/doc/overview.xml
@@ -8,19 +8,27 @@
<chapter id="ostree-intro">
<title>Introduction</title>
<para>
- OSTree is best summarized in a single sentence as "git for
- operating system binaries". At its core architecture is a
- userspace content-addressed filesystem, and layered on top of
- that is an administrative layer that is designed to atomically
- parallel install multiple bootable Unix-like operating systems.
+ OSTree an upgrade system for Linux-based operating systems that
+ performs atomic upgrades of complete filesystem trees. It is
+ not a package system; rather, it is intended to complement them.
+ A primary model is composing packages on a server, and then
+ replicating them to clients.
+ </para>
+
+ <para>
+ The underlying architecture might be summarized as "git for
+ operating system binaries". It operates in userspace, and will
+ work on top of any Linux filesystem. At its core is a git-like
+ content-addressed object store, and layered on top of that is
+ bootloader configuration, management of
+ <filename>/etc</filename>, and other functions to perform an
+ upgrade beyond just replicating files.
</para>
<para>
- While it takes over some of the roles of tradtional "package
- managers" like dpkg and rpm, it is <emphasis>not</emphasis> a
- package system; nor is it a tool for managing full disk
- images. Instead, OSTree sits between those levels, offering a
- blend of the advantages (and disadvantages) of both.
+ You can use OSTree standalone in the pure replication model,
+ but another approach is to add a package manager on top,
+ thus creating a hybrid tree/package system.
</para>
</chapter>
@@ -35,6 +43,7 @@
attached, and these are dynamically assembled on the client
machine, after a process of dependency resolution.
</para>
+
<para>
In contrast, OSTree only supports recording and deploying
<emphasis>complete</emphasis> (bootable) filesystem trees. It
@@ -48,24 +57,27 @@
included in your tree, so you should support the equivalent of
<command>rpm -q</command> or <command>dpkg -L</command>.
</para>
+
<para>
The OSTree core emphasizes replicating read-only OS trees via
HTTP, and where the OS includes (if desired) an entirely
separate mechanism to install applications, stored in <filename
class='directory'>/var</filename> if they're system global, or
<filename class='directory'>/home</filename> for per-user
- application installation.
+ application installation. An example application mechanism is
+ <ulink url="http://docker.io/">Docker</ulink>.
</para>
+
<para>
However, it is entirely possible to use OSTree underneath a
package system, where the contents of <filename
class='directory'>/usr</filename> are computed on the client.
- For example, when installing a package, rather than mutating the
+ For example, when installing a package, rather than changing the
currently running filesystem, the package manager could assemble
- a new filesystem tree that includes the new package, record it
- in the local OSTree repository, and then set it up for the next
- boot. To support this model, OSTree provides an
- (introspectable) C shared library.
+ a new filesystem tree that layers the new packages on top of a
+ base tree, record it in the local OSTree repository, and then
+ set it up for the next boot. To support this model, OSTree
+ provides an (introspectable) C shared library.
</para>
</chapter>
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