quad-ops #

GitOps for Quadlet #

A lightweight GitOps framework for podman containers managed by Quadlet

Quad-Ops is a tool that helps you manage container deployments using Podman and systemd in a GitOps workflow. It watches Git repositories for standard Docker Compose files and automatically converts them into unit files that systemd can use to run your containers.

What Makes Quad-Ops Different #

While Quad-Ops uses Docker Compose as its configuration format, there are some key differences from traditional Docker Compose deployments:

1. GitOps-Based: Changes to containers are driven by Git repositories, not manual commands
2. Systemd Integration: Containers are managed by systemd instead of a Docker daemon
3. Podman Backend: Uses Podman’s daemonless container engine instead of Docker
4. Automated Dependencies: Service relationships are automatically converted to systemd unit dependencies
5. Intelligent Restarts: Only restarts services that have changed and their dependents

Key Features: #

• Monitor multiple Git repositories for container configurations
• Supports standard Docker Compose files (services, networks, volumes, secrets)
• Works in both system-wide and user (rootless) modes
• Automates deployment and management of container infrastructure

How Quad-Ops Works #

Quad-Ops bridges the gap between Docker Compose and systemd by converting familiar Docker Compose configurations into Podman Quadlet units:

graph LR
    A[Git Repository] --> B[Docker Compose Files]
    B --> C[Quad-Ops Conversion]
    C --> D[Podman Quadlet Units]
    D --> E[systemd Services]
    E --> F[Running Containers]

The Conversion Process #

1. Git Synchronization - Monitors repositories for Docker Compose file changes
2. File Processing - Reads docker-compose.yml files and associated environment files
3. Unit Generation - Converts services, volumes, and networks to .container, .volume, and .network Quadlet units
4. systemd Integration - Loads units into systemd for native service management
5. Dependency Resolution - Maps depends_on relationships to systemd After/Requires directives

Why This Approach? #

• Familiar Configuration - Use standard Docker Compose files you already know
• systemd Benefits - Leverage systemd’s robust service management, logging, and dependency handling
• GitOps Workflow - All changes tracked in Git with rollback capability
• Podman Integration - Daemonless, rootless container execution with enhanced security

Docker Compose Feature Support #

Quad-Ops converts Docker Compose version 3.x+ configurations into systemd-managed containers through Podman Quadlet. The following matrix shows which Docker Compose features are supported and how they’re implemented.

Feature Support Matrix #

This matrix describes Docker Compose feature support for systemd-managed containers through Quad-Ops conversion:

✅ Native Quadlet Support - Features that map directly to Podman Quadlet directives for optimal systemd integration.

⚠️ PodmanArgs Implementation - Features implemented using Quadlet’s PodmanArgs directive, providing full functionality with some limitations.

❌ Unsupported - Docker-specific features incompatible with systemd container management.

Compose Extensions #

Quad-Ops extends Docker Compose with Podman-specific capabilities:

• Environment secrets mapping for secure credential handling
• Volume extensions for advanced mount options
• Build extensions for enhanced build configurations

See Docker Compose Support for complete configuration examples and Supported Features for detailed implementation information.