I setup custom bash scripts eons ago to handle all my subuid/gid and networking stuff, and I’m on the road now, so getting into the code is harder. If I have time tonight, I’ll reply back with how I did it for rootless.

I run everything in rootless podman with quadlets. Be prepared for the docker die-hard crowd to tell you podman is inferior, but it really isn’t. At least not in my 10ish years using it. Is it harder to get going? Sure, but the extra abstraction layer for security is worth it imo.

I have to get ready to update my scripts for the podman 6.0 changes upcoming, but otherwise they pretty much run themselves. Systemd gets a lot of hate sometimes, but when you get it working, it’s pretty much automated.

Want to have program x run after condition y. Use targets, sockets or a small monitor service. I have encrypted volumes that require me to enter the unlock password before they will unlock, the services will just wait until that is done.

Networking and permission issues? Run a pod. Podman unshare is also your friend.

The biggest thing I found getting everything figured out is the lack of step-by-step instructions on how it all works. The docs help, but can be a bit confusing/ambiguous at times.

Feel free to dm me if you have a specific question and I’d be glad to try and help. Just might be a bit delayed on responses for the next bit while I’m travelling.