Amazon introduced finch , open tools for assembly, publication and launch of Linux containers. The toolkit is characterized by a very simple installation process and the use of typical finished components for working with containers in OCI format (Open Container Initiative). The FinCH code is written in the language of Go and spreads under the license Apache 2.0.
The project is still at an early stage of development and includes only the basic functionality – Amazon decided not to complete the development behind closed doors and in order not to wait for the final product to publish the initial version, believing that this could attract interested participants and allow you to take into account in the process Development expressed by representatives of the community of opinions and ideas. The main objective of the project is the simplification of work with Linux containers on the host systems not on the basis of Linux.
The first issue supports only work with Linux containers surrounded by MacOS, but in the future it is planned to provide Finch options for Linux and Windows.
The work line in Finch uses the achievements of nerdctl , providing a set of commands for the assembly, launch, publication and loading commands containers (Build, Run, Push, Pull, etc.), as well as additional optional capabilities, such as the mode of operation without ROOT, encryption of images, distribution of images in P2P mode using IPFS and certification of images of digital signature.
As a Runtime for controlling containers, containerd is used. To assemble images in the OCI format, the instrumentation is involved buildkit , and to launch virtual vehicles with Linux and set up joint access to files and transpaning ports – lima .
Finch connects Nerdctl, Containerd, Buildkit and Lima into one and allows you to immediately start work, without the need to understand and set up all these components separately. For work, the FINCH utility is offered, which hides the part of work with each of the components in the unified interface. To get started, it is enough to install the package provided, which includes everything that is necessary, after which you can immediately create and run containers.