---
name: "container-build"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "open-infrastructure-compute-tools"
version: "20250604-1"
release: "Debian 13 (Trixie)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/container-build"
---

# container-build(1)

Build a container

## NAME

container-build - Build a container

## SYNOPSIS

```
container build ['OPTIONS']
cnt b ['OPTIONS']
```

## DESCRIPTION

The **container build** command builds a container based on a script.

### Scripts

The following build scripts are available:

- **debootstrap:**

  Basic script to build Debian based container, see [container-build-debootstrap(1)](/container-build-debootstrap/1.md).

- **debconf:**

  Advanced script to automatically build Debian based container, see [container-build-debconf(1)](/container-build-debconf/1.md).

- **default:**

  Symlink (if existing) to a build script which is used if no script was specified. On Debian based system this can be managed through [update-alternatives(1)](/update-alternatives/1.md), i.e. 'sudo update-alternatives --config container\_build-script'.

## OPTIONS

The following **container build** options are available:

- **-n, --name='NAME':**

  Specify container name.

- **-c, --capability='CAPABILITY':**

  Specify capabilities to grant, see [capabilities(7)](/capabilities/7.md).

- **-d, --drop-capability='DROP\_CAPABILITY':**

  Specify capabilities to drop, see [capabilities(7)](/capabilities/7.md).

- **-s, --script='SCRIPT':**

  Specify container build script, defaults to 'debootstrap'.

- **-v, --verbose:**

  Explain what is being done.

- **-b, --bind='DIRECTORY:DIRECTORY\[:OPTIONS\]\[;DIRECTORY:DIRECTORY\[:OPTIONS\]\]':**

  Specify container read-write bind mounts, see [systemd-nspawn(1)](/systemd-nspawn/1.md) --bind option.

- **--bind-ro='DIRECTORY:DIRECTORY\[:OPTIONS\]\[;DIRECTORY:DIRECTORY\[:OPTIONS\]\]':**

  Specify container read-only bind mounts, see [systemd-nspawn(1)](/systemd-nspawn/1.md) --bind-ro option.

- **--cnt-overlay='DIRECTORY\_LOWER:DIRECTORY\_UPPER:DIRECTORY\_WORK:DIRECTORY\_MERGED\[;DIRECTORY\_UPPER:DIRECTORY\_LOWER:DIRECTORY\_WORK:DIRECTORY\_MERGED\]':**

  Specify container overlay mounts, see Documentation/filesystems/overlayfs.txt.

- **--cnt.overlay-options='OPTION1,OPTION2\[;OPTION3,OPTION4\]':**

  Specify container overlay mount options, see Documentation/filesystems/overlayfs.txt.

- **--cnt.start='OPTION1\[,OPTION2,...\]':**

  Specify container start options, see [container-start(1)](/container-start/1.md).

## EXAMPLES

Build example.net container using debootstrap script:

sudo container build -n example.net -s debootstrap

Build example.net container using debconf script:

sudo container build -n example.net -s debconf

Build example.net container with the default build script and start it:

sudo container build,start -n example.net

## SEE ALSO

```
compute-tools(7),
container(1).
```

## HOMEPAGE

More information about compute-tools and the Open Infrastructure project can be found on the homepage ( \<https://open-infrastructure.net\> ).

## CONTACT

Bug reports, feature requests, help, patches, support and everything else are welcome on the Open Infrastructure Software Mailing List \< \<software@lists.open-infrastructure.net\> \>.

Debian specific bugs can also be reported in the Debian Bug Tracking System ( \<https://bugs.debian.org\> ).

## AUTHORS

compute-tools were written by Daniel Baumann \< \<daniel.baumann@open-infrastructure.net\> \> and others.