Open Build Service
Open Build Service (OBS) automates building and distributing binary packages from source code in consistent, reproducible builds.
What Open Build Service is
Open Build Service (OBS) automates building and distributing binary packages from source code in consistent, reproducible builds. It can produce packages, updates, add-ons, appliances, and complete distributions for different operating systems and hardware architectures. Each package is built in a fresh jailed environment, and successful builds trigger rebuilds of dependent packages. Documented package outputs include RPM, DEB, and Arch packages; recipe formats include spec, dsc, KIWI, preinstallimage, SimpleImage, and mkosi. Teams can work with fine-grained access rights, branches, merge requests, and submission reviews. The API exposes OBS resources to clients and external services, while the osc command-line client can edit sources and metadata, start builds, and collect results. SCM and CI workflows include GitHub.com and GitLab.com, along with self-hosted GitHub, GitLab, and Gitea when network connectivity permits. OBS is free GPL-licensed software that can be installed on users' own hardware or in a data center. Its reference server is available to open-source developers. The project began in 2005.
Good
- Builds packages in fresh jailed environments.
- Rebuilds dependent packages after successful builds.
- Supports RPM, DEB, and Arch package outputs.
- Includes API and osc command-line access.
- Can be installed on users' own hardware.
Watch out
- The beginner guide recommends basic Linux and command-line knowledge.
- Deploying the appliance overwrites the target disk.
- Self-hosted SCM integrations depend on network connectivity.
Who it suits
OBS is intended for packagers, free software projects, and independent software vendors that build and distribute packages. Its beginner guide recommends basic Linux and command-line knowledge.
Verdict
OBS combines automated package builds with collaboration tools, API access, and a command-line client. It offers a reference server or self-hosting, but the appliance deployment warning and Linux setup expectations deserve attention.
Plans and prices
From Open Build Service's own pricing page, checked 7 Oct 2026.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| Open Build Service | Free | Free software licensed under GPL · reference server available for open source developers · can be installed on your own hardware |
The facts
Each one read from Open Build Service's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- 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.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Build isolation
- Each package is built in a fresh jailed environment, and successful builds trigger rebuilds of dependent packages.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Collaboration
- OBS supports fine-grained access rights, branching, merge requests, and submission reviews.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Command-line client
- The osc command-line client can edit sources and metadata, trigger builds, and gather results.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Dependency rebuilds
- After a successful build, OBS rebuilds the packages that depend on it.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Distribution coverage
- The reference server supports package builds for openSUSE, Debian, Fedora, Ubuntu, Arch, Red Hat Enterprise Linux, and SUSE Linux Enterprise.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Hosting
- The reference server is available to open-source developers and is used to build, release, and maintain the openSUSE distribution.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Integrations
- The OBS API lets clients and external services interface with OBS resources.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Intended users
- The project describes OBS as serving packagers, free software projects, and independent software vendors.checked 7 Oct 2026
- 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.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Outputs
- It can release packages, updates, add-ons, appliances, and entire distributions for a range of operating systems and hardware architectures.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Package building
- OBS builds and distributes binary packages from sources automatically, consistently, and reproducibly.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Package formats
- The documented package formats include RPM, DEB, and Arch packages; build recipe formats include spec, dsc, KIWI, preinstallimage, SimpleImage, and mkosi.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- OBS automatically builds and distributes binary packages from source code in a consistent and reproducible way.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Release outputs
- It can release packages, updates, add-ons, appliances, and entire distributions across operating systems and hardware architectures.checked 7 Oct 2026
- SCM integrations
- SCM/CI workflows support GitHub.com and GitLab.com, plus self-hosted GitHub, GitLab, and Gitea instances when network connectivity works.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Security
- The administrator guide recommends isolated worker networks and describes running untrusted build code in KVM or XEN virtual machines without network access.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Security updates
- Once users connect to a repository, maintainers can serve them maintenance or security updates and add-ons.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Self-hosting
- OBS can be installed on your hardware or in your data center, keeping the data under your control.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Signing
- When the signd daemon is enabled, OBS can sign binary results such as packages, images, containers, and metadata.checked 7 Oct 2026
- 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.checked 7 Oct 2026
Where it runs
- Appliance
- The downloadable appliance bundles openSUSE Leap 16.0 with the server and OBS components needed to run an instance.checked 7 Oct 2026
The company
- Founded
- 2005checked 28 Sep 2026
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