Silverbluecapable

Silverbluecapable is a designation used in software release notes and hardware qualification to indicate compatibility with Fedora Silverblue, an immutable desktop operating system. A product labeled silverbluecapable is expected to run on Silverblue without requiring modifications to the system’s core, and it aligns with the platform’s immutability model based on rpm-ostree and containerized application workflows.

The term implies that the software can be installed and updated within Silverblue’s layered filesystem, typically via Flatpak, toolbox, or rpm-ostree overlays, and does not depend on making changes to the base filesystem. It suggests that the software avoids assumptions about writable system directories or centralized package management that conflict with Silverblue’s design.

Examples of silverbluecapable implementations include applications packaged as Flatpaks, container images, or standalone tools that operate within the user space or in dedicated containers. Development documentation for silverbluecapable software often notes testing on Silverblue or in CI environments that simulate rpm-ostree constraints, and may recommend using containerized deployment for full compatibility.

Significance and limitations: labeling software as silverbluecapable helps users on Silverblue assess compatibility and reduces install friction. However, some software that requires kernel modules, system-wide daemons, or changes to the immutable system may not be silverbluecapable without workarounds, such as virtualization or container-based approaches.

See also: Fedora Silverblue, rpm-ostree, Flatpak, ostree, containerization.