Cloud Native Buildpacks Pack
Pack is a command-line tool maintained by the Cloud Native Buildpacks project for building applications with buildpacks and rebasing application images made …
What Cloud Native Buildpacks Pack is
Pack is a command-line tool maintained by the Cloud Native Buildpacks project for building applications with buildpacks and rebasing application images made with them. It is also available as a Go library. Buildpacks turn application source into container images that can run on any cloud. Listed capabilities include caching, source auto-detection, modular buildpacks, multiple languages and processes, minimal images, reproducibility, and reuse of community buildpacks. Pack can generate build-time software bills of materials in CycloneDX, SPDX, and Syft JSON formats. The CLI is listed for Linux, macOS, and Windows, with package-manager, container-image, script, and manual installation options. Builds require a containerized environment and a daemon such as Docker or Podman; some container environments may require mounting the local Docker daemon socket. Documented integrations include a CircleCI orb, GitLab Auto DevOps, and a Tekton reference task. The documentation also describes kpack as a Kubernetes-native platform for buildpack builds and image updates. Pack is Apache-2.0 licensed, and the listed plan is free with no paid plans listed.
Good
- Available as a CLI and Go library.
- Builds and rebases application images.
- Generates SBOMs in three listed formats.
- CLI is listed for Linux, macOS, and Windows.
- Free and Apache-2.0 licensed.
Watch out
- Builds require a containerized environment.
- Requires a daemon such as Docker or Podman.
- Some environments may need the Docker socket mounted.
Who it suits
Pack suits developers who want to build or rebase application images with buildpacks from the command line or Go. It requires a containerized environment and a daemon such as Docker or Podman.
Verdict
Pack provides build and rebase workflows, SBOM generation, and documented integrations, with both CLI and library forms. Confirm that your environment can provide the required container runtime and daemon.
Plans and prices
From Cloud Native Buildpacks Pack's own pricing page, checked 2 Oct 2026.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| Pack | Free | No paid plans listed; free CLI and Go library |
The facts
Each one read from Cloud Native Buildpacks Pack's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- Build and rebase
- Pack can build applications using buildpacks and rebase application images created with buildpacks.checked 2 Oct 2026
- Build output
- Cloud Native Buildpacks transform application source code into container images that can run on any cloud.checked 2 Oct 2026
- Docker socket
- The installation docs say some container environments may require mounting the local Docker daemon socket.checked 2 Oct 2026
- Features
- Listed features include caching, source auto-detection, modular buildpacks, multiple languages and processes, minimal images, rebasing, reproducibility and reuse of community buildpacks.checked 2 Oct 2026
- Install options
- The CLI is listed for Linux, macOS and Windows, with package-manager, container-image, script and manual installation options.checked 2 Oct 2026
- Integrations
- The project documents a CircleCI orb for running pack commands, GitLab Auto DevOps use of pack, and a Tekton reference task for builds.checked 2 Oct 2026
- Kubernetes
- The docs describe kpack as a Kubernetes-native platform that uses unprivileged Kubernetes primitives for buildpack builds and image updates.checked 2 Oct 2026
- Library
- Pack is available both as a command-line interface and as a Go library.checked 2 Oct 2026
- License
- The project is described as an Apache-2.0 licensed project.checked 2 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- Pack is a CLI tool maintained by the Cloud Native Buildpacks project to support the use of buildpacks.checked 2 Oct 2026
- Runtime requirement
- Buildpacks run in a containerized environment, and Pack uses a daemon such as Docker or Podman to create build containers.checked 2 Oct 2026
- SBOM
- The project lists build-time software bills of materials in CycloneDX, SPDX and Syft JSON formats.checked 2 Oct 2026
- Security and maturity
- The project reports CNCF graduation on 11 August 2026 following a third-party security audit, an OpenSSF Best Practices badge and adoption of the CNCF Code of Conduct.checked 2 Oct 2026
- Support
- The project identifies CNCF Slack #buildpacks and its mailing list as contact channels for the team.checked 2 Oct 2026
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