Bottlerocket is a Linux-based operating system designed for hosting containers.
Bottlerocket addresses the need for a minimal, secure, and maintainable operating system purpose-built for container workloads. Rather than starting with a general-purpose Linux distribution, it strips away unnecessary components and focuses on what is required to run containers reliably. The system prioritizes security and maintainability through an API-driven configuration model, where settings are changed via API calls rather than manual configuration, and these changes are automatically migrated through system updates. Updates themselves use partition-flip technology for fast and reliable deployment. The operating system is built from standard open-source components with Bottlerocket-specific additions focused on the API and update mechanisms.
Bottlerocket suits teams running containerized workloads in cloud environments or on-premises infrastructure who want a hardened, minimal operating system with strong security guarantees and simplified management. The project provides setup guides for Amazon EKS, Amazon ECS, and VMware, as well as provisioning guidance for bare metal deployment. Organizations that value automated configuration management and reliable update mechanisms will find the API-driven approach particularly valuable compared to traditional operating systems requiring manual configuration changes.
The project maintains active community engagement through regular meetups and discussions. The team uses GitHub issues with templates to track bug reports and feature requests, and maintains a dedicated security contact process for vulnerability reports. The project welcomes contributions and provides a contributor's guide for those interested in participating.
