The best way to bring homebrew to your custom bootc image!

Repository for generating Homebrew tarballs for redistribution on image-based systems via an OCI image. This includes general settings you'd want to use when using Homebrew on a bootc system, including a tarball and services for setting it up.

Overview

This repository builds an OCI container image that packages:

• A pre-installed Homebrew tarball (homebrew.tar.zst)
• Systemd services for automated setup, updates, and upgrades
• Shell integration scripts (bash, fish)
• Security limits and tmpfiles configuration

The image is designed to be consumed by custom bootc-based container images.

Using in Custom bootc Images

Basic Example

To include Homebrew in your custom bootc image, copy the files from this repository's OCI image:

# Copy Homebrew files from the brew image
COPY --from=ghcr.io/ublue-os/brew:latest /system_files /

This will:

1. Install the Homebrew tarball to /usr/share/homebrew.tar.zst
2. Install all systemd services and timers
3. Add shell integration scripts
4. Configure system limits and tmpfiles

On first boot, brew-setup.service will automatically:

1. Extract Homebrew to /var/home/linuxbrew/.linuxbrew
2. Set up proper permissions
3. Make Homebrew ready to use

Advanced Example with Pre-installed Packages

If you want to pre-install Homebrew packages in your image:

# Copy Homebrew files
COPY --from=ghcr.io/ublue-os/brew:latest /system_files /

# Install Homebrew packages during image build
RUN mkdir -p /var/home/linuxbrew && \
    tar --zstd -xvf /usr/share/homebrew.tar.zst -C /tmp && \
    mv /tmp/home/linuxbrew/.linuxbrew /var/home/linuxbrew/ && \
    eval "$(/var/home/linuxbrew/.linuxbrew/bin/brew shellenv)" && \
    brew install gcc neovim ripgrep && \
    brew cleanup && \
    tar --zstd -cvf /usr/share/homebrew.tar.zst /var/home/linuxbrew/.linuxbrew && \
    rm -rf /var/home/linuxbrew/.linuxbrew /tmp/home

Systemd Services

brew-setup.service

Runs on first boot to extract and configure Homebrew:

• Extracts tarball to /var/home/linuxbrew/.linuxbrew
• Sets appropriate ownership (UID 1000)
• Creates marker file to prevent re-running

brew-update.timer & brew-update.service

Automatically keeps Homebrew up to date:

• Runs daily to update Homebrew itself
• Ensures formula database is current

brew-upgrade.timer & brew-upgrade.service

Automatically upgrades installed packages:

• Runs on a regular schedule
• Keeps installed packages up to date

Shell Integration

• Bash: /etc/profile.d/brew.sh - Automatically configures Homebrew environment
• Fish: /usr/share/fish/vendor_conf.d/ublue-brew.fish - Fish shell support
• Bash Completion: /etc/profile.d/brew-bash-completion.sh

Configuration Files

• Security Limits: /etc/security/limits.d/30-brew-limits.conf
• Tmpfiles: /usr/lib/tmpfiles.d/homebrew.conf
• Systemd Presets: /usr/lib/systemd/system-preset/01-homebrew.preset