Arch Linux bootc PC image

An Arch Linux workstation image for bootc hosts. It provides GNOME, Hyprland, current AMD/NVIDIA support, and a focused desktop/developer toolset.

The image is built from Containerfile.base and Containerfile.pc, then rechunked with Chunkah into content-based OCI layers before it is published. The default registry target is ghcr.io/oci-native/archlinux:latest.

Quick start

Requirements: rootless Podman, Task, and sufficient local storage for an Arch desktop image. Confirm rootless Podman first:

podman info --format 'rootless={{.Host.Security.Rootless}}'

Create local registry configuration. Do not commit this file:

cp .env.example .env

Build, rechunk, and validate the deployable image:

task build

To rebuild every Containerfile without using cached layers, rechunk, validate, and publish the result, set GHCR_USERNAME and GHCR_TOKEN in .env, then run rebuild-push. The token requires the GitHub write:packages scope:

task rebuild-push

Tasks

Task	Purpose
task build-base	Build only the base bootc image.
task build-pc	Build only the flat PC image using the existing base image.
task build-flat	Build the base image, then the flat PC image.
task rechunk	Split the flat image into up to 96 content-based layers.
task validate	Validate the bootc, composefs, and initramfs boot path.
task build	Build, rechunk, and validate.
task rebuild	Rebuild both Containerfiles without cache, rechunk, and validate.
task push	Build, rechunk, validate, and push to GHCR as :latest.
task rebuild-push	Rebuild from the ground up without cache, rechunk, validate, and push.
sudo task disk	Create a bootable UEFI disk image.
sudo task switch-preflight	Read-only safety checks for the current Bluefin host.
sudo task switch	Confirm and stage the Arch deployment; it never reboots.

Choose the narrowest task for the change being tested. build-base stops after the shared base image, while build-pc rebuilds only the workstation layer and requires the local base image to exist. build-flat runs both stages in order.

The two complete publishing paths are:

task push:
  base (cached) -> PC (cached) -> rechunk -> validate -> push

task rebuild-push:
  base (--no-cache) -> PC (--no-cache) -> rechunk -> validate -> push

rebuild-push does not delete Podman images or globally clear the build cache; it bypasses the cache for this build only.

Override the target repository when needed:

task push IMAGE_REPOSITORY=ghcr.io/example/archlinux

The local outputs are:

• localhost/archlinux-pc:flat — the direct Containerfile result.
• localhost/archlinux-pc:latest — the validated, rechunked deployment image.

Image delivery

Chunkah reads the Arch pacman database and produces stable, content-based OCI layers. The 96-layer value is a cap, not an exact target; the tool may emit fewer layers when it can pack components more efficiently.

The final push uses OCI zstd:chunked. Chunkah keeps unchanged content in reusable layers; zstd:chunked lets compatible clients fetch changed ranges within changed layers. Override the cap with CHUNKAH_MAX_LAYERS=....

The project intentionally uses Chunkah rather than an RPM-only rechunker, because Chunkah supports pacman/ALPM images.

What is included

• GNOME/GDM and Hyprland desktop sessions
• Chromium, Firefox, terminals, editors, Git, and common development tools
• NetworkManager, systemd-resolved, PipeWire, Bluetooth, and power profiles
• AMD microcode, nvidia-open, and Realtek firmware
• LUKS, Btrfs, dracut, systemd-boot, OSTree, and bootc support

Packages come from official Arch repositories except documented AUR desktop exceptions. The image contains no dotfiles, credentials, Flatpak remotes, or curl/npm-installed applications.

See the architecture document for the full image policy and design.

Switching an existing Bluefin host

This workflow is only for a host that is already a composefs/UKI bootc system with a LUKS-on-Btrfs root. It stages a new deployment; it does not repartition, format, recreate LUKS, or reboot.

Run the read-only preflight:

sudo task switch-preflight

Then explicitly confirm the staged switch:

sudo task switch

Before rebooting, verify bootc status shows Arch as staged and Bluefin as the rollback deployment. Keep Secure Boot disabled until a signed Arch UKI path is available.

TPM unlock and VM testing

TPM enrollment is host state, not image build state. After booting an image with TPM initramfs support, enroll a token while retaining a passphrase slot:

sudo systemd-cryptenroll \
  --tpm2-device=auto \
  --tpm2-pcrs=7+14 \
  /dev/nvme0n1p2

For separate UEFI/QEMU testing, create a disk image:

sudo task disk

This does not replace testing the real host’s LUKS kernel arguments and GPU path before staging a switch.