AWS CodeBuild From $0.01/mo · Free plan 9.5 Visit Open Build Service
openbuildservice.org
What it is
Open Build Service (OBS) builds and distributes binary packages from source code in a consistent, reproducible way. Each package is built in a fresh jailed environment; when a build succeeds, OBS rebuilds packages that depend on it. The service can release packages, updates, add-ons, appliances, and complete distributions for different operating systems and hardware architectures. Documented package formats include RPM, DEB, and Arch, with recipes in formats such as spec, dsc, KIWI, and mkosi. Teams can use access controls, branches, merge requests, and submission reviews to coordinate work. GitHub.com and GitLab.com integrations are supported, as are self-hosted GitHub, GitLab, and Gitea instances when network connectivity works. The API gives clients and external services access to OBS resources, while the osc command-line client can edit sources and metadata, start builds, and gather results. OBS is GPL-licensed free software, available on a reference server for open-source developers or for installation on users’ own hardware or in a data center. The listed plan is free.
Spec sheet
- Purpose
- OBS automatically builds and distributes binary packages from source code in a consistent and reproducible way.Read 7 Oct 2026 · openbuildservice.org
- Intended users
- The project describes OBS as serving packagers, free software projects, and independent software vendors.Read 7 Oct 2026 · openbuildservice.org
- Integrations
- The OBS API lets clients and external services interface with OBS resources.Read 7 Oct 2026 · openbuildservice.org
- Security
- The administrator guide recommends isolated worker networks and describes running untrusted build code in KVM or XEN virtual machines without network access.Read 7 Oct 2026 · openbuildservice.org
- Support
- Community help is available through OBS IRC and a mailing list; commercial consulting, training, or SLA support is offered by listed partners, while the project says it has no product or service offering of its own.Read 7 Oct 2026 · openbuildservice.org
- License
- OBS is free software licensed under the GNU General Public License (GPL), and can be installed on users’ own hardware or in their data center.Read 7 Oct 2026 · openbuildservice.org
- Founded
- 2005Read 28 Sep 2026 · openbuildservice.org
- API and CLI
- The OBS API lets clients and external services use OBS resources, and the osc command-line client can edit sources and metadata, trigger builds, and gather results.Read 7 Oct 2026 · openbuildservice.org
- Appliance
- The downloadable appliance bundles openSUSE Leap 16.0 with the server and OBS components needed to run an instance.Read 7 Oct 2026 · openbuildservice.org
- Build isolation
- Each package is built in a fresh jailed environment, and successful builds trigger rebuilds of dependent packages.Read 7 Oct 2026 · openbuildservice.org
- Collaboration
- OBS supports fine-grained access rights, branching, merge requests, and submission reviews.Read 7 Oct 2026 · openbuildservice.org
- Command-line client
- The osc command-line client can edit sources and metadata, trigger builds, and gather results.Read 7 Oct 2026 · openbuildservice.org
- Dependency rebuilds
- After a successful build, OBS rebuilds the packages that depend on it.Read 7 Oct 2026 · openbuildservice.org
- Distribution coverage
- The reference server supports package builds for openSUSE, Debian, Fedora, Ubuntu, Arch, Red Hat Enterprise Linux, and SUSE Linux Enterprise.Read 7 Oct 2026 · openbuildservice.org
- Hosting
- The reference server is available to open-source developers and is used to build, release, and maintain the openSUSE distribution.Read 7 Oct 2026 · openbuildservice.org
- Outputs
- It can release packages, updates, add-ons, appliances, and entire distributions for a range of operating systems and hardware architectures.Read 7 Oct 2026 · openbuildservice.org
- Package building
- OBS builds and distributes binary packages from sources automatically, consistently, and reproducibly.Read 7 Oct 2026 · openbuildservice.org
- Package formats
- The documented package formats include RPM, DEB, and Arch packages; build recipe formats include spec, dsc, KIWI, preinstallimage, SimpleImage, and mkosi.Read 7 Oct 2026 · openbuildservice.org
- Release outputs
- It can release packages, updates, add-ons, appliances, and entire distributions across operating systems and hardware architectures.Read 7 Oct 2026 · openbuildservice.org
- SCM integrations
- SCM/CI workflows support GitHub.com and GitLab.com, plus self-hosted GitHub, GitLab, and Gitea instances when network connectivity works.Read 7 Oct 2026 · openbuildservice.org
- Security updates
- Once users connect to a repository, maintainers can serve them maintenance or security updates and add-ons.Read 7 Oct 2026 · openbuildservice.org
- Self-hosting
- OBS can be installed on your hardware or in your data center, keeping the data under your control.Read 7 Oct 2026 · openbuildservice.org
- Signing
- When the signd daemon is enabled, OBS can sign binary results such as packages, images, containers, and metadata.Read 7 Oct 2026 · openbuildservice.org
Plans and prices
Open Build Service Free Free software licensed under GPL · reference server available for open source developers · can be installed on your own hardware Read 7 Oct 2026 · openbuildservice.org
Strong points and limits
Strong points
- Builds packages in fresh jailed environments.
- Rebuilds dependent packages after successful builds.
- Supports multiple package and recipe formats.
- Offers API and osc command-line access.
- Can be self-hosted under the GPL.
Limits
- The beginner guide recommends Linux and command-line knowledge.
- Self-hosting appliance deployment overwrites the target disk.
- Self-hosted integrations depend on network connectivity.
Who it suits
OBS suits packagers, free software projects, and independent software vendors that need to build and distribute packages. Its beginner guide recommends basic Linux and command-line knowledge.
Verdict
OBS covers package builds, dependency rebuilds, collaboration, and release outputs across operating systems and hardware architectures. Teams can use the reference server or install the GPL-licensed software on their own hardware.
Where Specifiction places it
- Build Automation Software#9 of 428.3
- Container Build Tools#9 of 348.3
