diff --git a/doc/overview.xml b/doc/overview.xml
index f2273068..94bf9c78 100644
--- a/doc/overview.xml
+++ b/doc/overview.xml
@@ -8,19 +8,27 @@
Introduction
- OSTree is best summarized in a single sentence as "git for
- operating system binaries". At its core architecture is a
- userspace content-addressed filesystem, and layered on top of
- that is an administrative layer that is designed to atomically
- parallel install multiple bootable Unix-like operating systems.
+ OSTree an upgrade system for Linux-based operating systems that
+ performs atomic upgrades of complete filesystem trees. It is
+ not a package system; rather, it is intended to complement them.
+ A primary model is composing packages on a server, and then
+ replicating them to clients.
+
+
+
+ The underlying architecture might be summarized as "git for
+ operating system binaries". It operates in userspace, and will
+ work on top of any Linux filesystem. At its core is a git-like
+ content-addressed object store, and layered on top of that is
+ bootloader configuration, management of
+ /etc, and other functions to perform an
+ upgrade beyond just replicating files.
- While it takes over some of the roles of tradtional "package
- managers" like dpkg and rpm, it is not a
- package system; nor is it a tool for managing full disk
- images. Instead, OSTree sits between those levels, offering a
- blend of the advantages (and disadvantages) of both.
+ You can use OSTree standalone in the pure replication model,
+ but another approach is to add a package manager on top,
+ thus creating a hybrid tree/package system.
@@ -35,6 +43,7 @@
attached, and these are dynamically assembled on the client
machine, after a process of dependency resolution.
+
In contrast, OSTree only supports recording and deploying
complete (bootable) filesystem trees. It
@@ -48,24 +57,27 @@
included in your tree, so you should support the equivalent of
rpm -q or dpkg -L.
+
The OSTree core emphasizes replicating read-only OS trees via
HTTP, and where the OS includes (if desired) an entirely
separate mechanism to install applications, stored in /var if they're system global, or
/home for per-user
- application installation.
+ application installation. An example application mechanism is
+ Docker.
+
However, it is entirely possible to use OSTree underneath a
package system, where the contents of /usr are computed on the client.
- For example, when installing a package, rather than mutating the
+ For example, when installing a package, rather than changing the
currently running filesystem, the package manager could assemble
- a new filesystem tree that includes the new package, record it
- in the local OSTree repository, and then set it up for the next
- boot. To support this model, OSTree provides an
- (introspectable) C shared library.
+ a new filesystem tree that layers the new packages on top of a
+ base tree, record it in the local OSTree repository, and then
+ set it up for the next boot. To support this model, OSTree
+ provides an (introspectable) C shared library.