# systemd/mkosi

💽 Build Bespoke OS Images

Repository: https://github.com/systemd/mkosi
Canonical: https://ross.abutalabs.com/products/mkosi
Homepage: https://mkosi.systemd.io/
Language: Python
License Family: other
Topics: btrfs, efi, gpt, disk-image, verity, luks, distro, fedora, squashfs, ubuntu, debian, opensuse, partition, mkosi, btrfs-subvolume, boot, initramfs, initramfs-generator, initramfs-image
Last push: 2026-08-26T15:41:49+00:00

## Health v2 (maintenance only)
Score: 86/100 (v2, computed 2026-09-02T17:46:02.011165+00:00)
- activity 99, release rhythm 62, longevity 100
- inputs: {"age_days": 3703, "days_push": 7, "days_rel": 259, "gap_med": 3.5, "n_releases_24m": 5}
- flags: no_license
- formula: round(0.45*activity + 0.35*rhythm + 0.20*longevity); archived -> min(score, 10)

## Adoption (not part of the score)
Stars 1988, forks 441 (observed 2026-08-28T04:06:02.896593+00:00)

## What it is
mkosi is a Python CLI tool from the systemd project that builds bespoke, bootable OS disk images by wrapping distribution package managers like dnf, apt, pacman, and zypper. It supports features such as GPT partitioning, LUKS encryption, dm-verity, btrfs subvolumes, squashfs, EFI boot, and custom initramfs generation across multiple distributions.

## Use cases
- build a custom bootable linux disk image
- create os images for fedora debian ubuntu or arch
- generate a luks-encrypted or dm-verity protected system image
- build a custom initramfs image
- package a systemd service into a bootable image for testing
- create reproducible os images for vm or bare-metal deployment

## When to choose
- you need bespoke bootable OS images built from distro packages
- you want systemd-integrated image features like verity, LUKS, and unified kernel images
- you test systemd or system software against full OS images

## When to avoid
- you only need container images rather than bootable disk images
- you target non-Linux platforms
- you need a GUI-driven image builder

## Facets
- artifact type: cli-tool
- maturity: active
- function: build-tool, deployment, developer-tools, cli
- domain: operating-systems, developer-tools
- platform: python, cli
- tags: os-image-builder, disk-images, efi, luks, dm-verity, initramfs, systemd, btrfs, squashfs, reproducible-builds, devops, containers, linux

## Member repositories
- systemd/mkosi (main) score 86

## Provenance
- Observed fields: from GitHub, fetched 2026-08-28T04:06:02.896593+00:00.
- Health v2: computed from the inputs above; adoption is never an input.
- Inferred fields (summary, facets, guidance): AI-extracted, prompt v1, taxonomy v1, on 2026-08-30T03:02:59.162726+00:00, confidence not recorded.
  - readme: https://github.com/systemd/mkosi (fetched 2026-08-28T04:06:02.896593+00:00, sha 8c941bb6e315)
  - homepage: https://mkosi.systemd.io/ (fetched 2026-08-29T10:42:44.139233+00:00, sha 8e79006acc5e)
- Data as of 2026-08-30T08:39:29.467469+00:00.