(!) Discussion

Tool

Language

Read-only/Writable

Formats

Comments

virt-builder

ocaml

read/write

qcow2, raw

build-simple-cdd

debootstick

mkosi

python3, configuration in INI

configurable rw or ro

UKI, DDI (GPT), squashfs/erofs, qcow, directory/chroot, cpio, kernel+initrd

Does not require privileges, can build container images and/or VM images and/or bare-metal bootable images and/or UKIs, supports multiple distributions/architectures

Kameleon

lxc-create

Shell

read/write

dir(rootfs)

Deprecated, prefer distrobuilder; linux containers create new buildroots from scripts in lxc-templates

distrobuilder

Go

read/write

dir(rootfs), tar, qcow2

Modern system container image builder for LXC, LXD and Incus

debian-rootfs

Shell

WARNING: some questionable customizations

FAI

Shell, Perl

read/write

dir, ISO, raw, qcow2, vdi, vhdx, vmdk

can do installations, chroots, disk images, cross architecture

debos

Go

Data driven rootless image creation tool. debos intro

image-bootstrap

python

Creates (chroots and) bootable virtual machine images

apt2ostree

python

boxer

genimage

C

developed by Pengutronix

dmm

python

iso, tar

very alpha, not ready for production use, similar to debos and mkosi but much larger in scope (meant to be used for appimages/installer/ppa systems eventually)

kiwi

python

read/write

iso,qcow2,raw

Also used by SUSE and Redhat, supports non-root building in a VM

debvm

shell

ext4 raw image

Create and run Debian-based VM images for various releases and architectures

Tool

Language

Read-only/Writable

Formats

Comments

live-build

shell

allows for persistence

UEFI boot and legacy boot, used for the official Debian live images

open-infrastructure-system-build

grml-live

used fai dirinstall in the past

FAI

uses fai-cd

writeable data partition possible

UEFI boot and legacy boot

supermin

NEALE

bootcd

Tool

Language

Read-only/Writable

Formats

Comments

ganeti-instance-debootstrap

bootstrap-vz

Python

removed in bullseye

python-diskimage-builder

shell, python

removed in bullseye

openstack-debian-images

shell

packer

removed in trixie

xen-tools

Perl

TKLDev

fai-server

fai-diskimage, The Debian cloud team is using FAI for official cloud images

debian-cloud-images

wapper around FAI

image-factory

Python

wapper around virt-install

Tool

Language

Read-only/Writable

Formats

Comments

linaro-media-create

Python

buildroot

Armbian lib

omap-image-builder

FAI

Announcement for cross-architecture support

olimage

Python

For Olimex devices

mkimage-debian

shell

Build ready-to-burn Debian image for RISC-V boards (Hifive Unmatched, Visionfive v2, Allwinner D1 board)

moulin

Python

https://bugs.debian.org/1032323

Tool

Language

Read-only/Writable

Formats

Comments

debian-installer

shell, C

calamares

used on the LiveCD

propellor

Haskell

propellor is d-i 2.0

ubiquity

Ubuntu/Mint installer, uses d-i in backend.

v-i

based on vmdb2, announcement

consfigurator

Common Lisp

similarish to propellor