AWS CodeBuild From $0.01/mo · Free plan 9.4 Visit KIWI NG
osinside.github.io
What it is
KIWI NG is a free, daemonless command-line image builder for Linux. It turns versioned image descriptions and package repositories into bootable, reproducible artifacts. A prepared root tree can produce disk images, ISO files, or containers for virtual machines, cloud platforms, removable media, and specialized targets. Descriptions define metadata, repositories, packages, users, storage, target configuration, and image types, using config.xml or a .kiwi file. Overlays, archives, and scripts add customization. Documented package managers include apk, apt, dnf4, dnf5, microdnf, pacman, and zypper. Supported distributions include Fedora, CentOS Stream, openSUSE, Ubuntu, Debian, and Arch Linux. Builds support multiple architectures and a local cache backend. Installation is available through distribution packages, Open Build Service, or pip. A recent Linux host, Python 3.9 or newer, Git, and at least 15 GB recommended free disk space are required. QEMU can optionally boot and inspect outputs; GPL-3.0 governs the source.
Spec sheet
- Purpose
- KIWI NG is a command-line image builder that creates bootable, reproducible Linux images for virtual machines, cloud platforms, removable media, containers, and specialized deployment targets.Read 7 Oct 2026 · osinside.github.io
- Product
- KIWI NG is a command-line image builder for Linux distributions that creates bootable, reproducible images.Read 7 Oct 2026 · osinside.github.io
- Support
- The project lists an open kiwi-images mailing list and a Matrix room for contact.Read 7 Oct 2026 · osinside.github.io
- License
- The source repository identifies the project license as GPL-3.0.Read 7 Oct 2026 · github.com
- Build workflow
- It uses a prepare step to create a root tree and a create step to produce one or more image artifacts.Read 7 Oct 2026 · osinside.github.io
- Build-host constraint
- The documentation recommends using a build host from the same distribution as the target image, near its major version, because builds depend on distribution tools and behavior.Read 7 Oct 2026 · osinside.github.io
- Community support
- The project provides an open mailing list and a Matrix room for contact.Read 7 Oct 2026 · osinside.github.io
- Customization
- Builds can be customized with overlays, archives, and scripts.Read 7 Oct 2026 · osinside.github.io
- Distribution
- The documentation links to source code, GitHub releases, and RPM packages.Read 7 Oct 2026 · osinside.github.io
- Distribution support
- The documentation lists Fedora, CentOS Stream, openSUSE, Ubuntu, Debian, and Arch Linux among the officially tested and supported distributions.Read 7 Oct 2026 · osinside.github.io
- Image definitions
- Versioned descriptions can specify image metadata, repositories, packages, users, and storage settings.Read 7 Oct 2026 · osinside.github.io
- Image descriptions
- A description directory defines packages, target-system configuration, and the image types to create, using config.xml or a .kiwi file.Read 7 Oct 2026 · osinside.github.io
- Image formats
- A prepared root tree can be turned into disk, ISO, or container artifacts.Read 7 Oct 2026 · osinside.github.io
- Installation
- KIWI NG can be installed through a distribution package manager, from the Open Build Service, or with Python's pip package manager.Read 7 Oct 2026 · osinside.github.io
- Integration
- KIWI NG can use QEMU to boot and inspect generated images; QEMU is listed as an optional virtualization environment.Read 7 Oct 2026 · osinside.github.io
- Optional virtualization
- A virtualization environment such as QEMU can optionally be used to boot and inspect resulting images.Read 7 Oct 2026 · osinside.github.io
- Output formats
- The documentation gives qcow2 virtual machine disks as an example and says one prepared root tree can produce multiple image types.Read 7 Oct 2026 · osinside.github.io
- Output targets
- It builds images for virtual machines, cloud platforms, removable media, containers, and specialized deployment targets.Read 7 Oct 2026 · osinside.github.io
- Package managers
- The documented package managers include apk, apt, dnf4, dnf5, microdnf, pacman, and zypper.Read 7 Oct 2026 · osinside.github.io
- Requirements
- The build host needs a recent Linux distribution, Python 3.9 or newer, Git, and at least 15 GB of recommended free disk space.Read 7 Oct 2026 · osinside.github.io
- Security configuration
- Image descriptions can import additional CA certificates during a build.Read 7 Oct 2026 · osinside.github.io
- Source and license
- The maker's GitHub repository identifies KIWI as an OS image and appliance builder and lists a GPL-3.0 license.Read 7 Oct 2026 · github.com
- Supported build hosts
- The project lists Fedora, CentOS Stream, openSUSE, Ubuntu, Debian, and Arch Linux among its officially tested and supported distributions, with minimum versions specified on the page.Read 7 Oct 2026 · osinside.github.io
Plans and prices
KIWI NG Free Open-source Linux image builder · GPL-3.0 license Read 7 Oct 2026 · github.com
Strong points and limits
Strong points
- Creates disk, ISO, and container artifacts
- Supports multiple Linux distributions
- Daemonless, multi-architecture builds
- Customizes with overlays, archives, and scripts
- Free under GPL-3.0
Limits
- Requires a recent Linux build host
- Python 3.9 or newer is required
- At least 15 GB free disk is recommended
- Same-distribution build host is recommended
Who it suits
KIWI NG suits Linux builders creating repeatable images for virtual machines, clouds, containers, removable media, or specialized deployments. It is aimed at users comfortable with command-line image descriptions and Linux build hosts.
Verdict
KIWI NG defines reproducible Linux image builds across several output targets and package managers. Its documented host requirements and distribution guidance are important before setup.
Where Specifiction places it
- Container Build Tools#10 of 348.2
