Open Source Summit Europe 2024

The Open Container Initiative (OCI) was established to create standards for container formats and runtimes. Currently encompassing three specifications - image, runtime, and distribution; the OCI sets the standard for container images, container execution from a filesystem bundle, and content distribution. In this presentation, I will delve into the details of commonly employed features within the container landscape, shedding light on the fundamental concepts that govern them. This will make users understand about the underlying processes, addressing basic queries such as the rationale behind a container image download displaying a seemingly random list of digests. By providing a comprehensive overview, this talk aims to help users with a deeper understanding of the OCI's workings, facilitating a more informed approach to containerization. The talk will mostly focus on the different OCI specifications, how to read and understand them, and how those specs govern the lifecycle of a container. A quick run down on the OCI spec 1.1 will also be done as part of the presentation