---
url: /docs/modelkit/intro.md
description: >-
  Learn how ModelKit standardizes the packaging of models, datasets, and code
  for AI/ML workflows. OCI-compliant, versioned, and easy to use across
  registries and tools.
---

# ModelKit Overview

![ModelKit](./ModelKit_chart.svg)

> **ModelKit is a standardized, OCI-compliant packaging format for AI projects.**

It bundles the artifacts your AI project depends on - models, datasets, code, prompts, agent skill files, MCP server configurations, and documentation - into a single versioned, shareable artifact.

Despite the name, not every ModelKit contains a model. A ModelKit can package any combination of AI project artifacts. You might create a ModelKit that contains only prompts and skill files for an agentic AI system, or one that bundles an MCP server with its configuration, or a complete package with model weights, training data, prompts, and code.

Use ModelKits to version, share, and deploy AI projects across teams and environments using familiar DevOps tools like DockerHub, GitHub Packages, or private registries.

➡️ [Get started with ModelKits](../../get-started.md) in under 15 minutes
➡️ [See how teams use ModelKits](../../use-cases.md)

## Key Features

* **OCI-compliant and tool-friendly**
  Store, tag, and version ModelKits in any container registry. No custom infrastructure needed.

* **Selective unpacking**
  Unpack only the parts you need (e.g. just the prompts, just the model weights, just the MCP config) to speed up pipelines and reduce overhead.

* **No duplication for shared assets**
  Reuse datasets, prompts, or configs across multiple kits without bloating storage.

* **Familiar versioning and tagging**
  Use registry-native tags (e.g. `:latest`, `:prod`, `:rollback`) to track project state and history.

* **Built for AI workflows**
  Supports models, datasets, prompts, agent skill files, MCP server configurations, and code. Handles both large binary files (model weights) and small text files (prompts, configs) in the same artifact.

* **Streamlined collaboration**
  Teams can pull, inspect, and repack ModelKits just like container images, making it easier to collaborate across roles and environments.

## Why It Matters

ModelKit simplifies the messy handoff between data scientists, AI engineers, agent developers, and operations. It gives teams a common, versioned package that works across clouds, registries, and deployment setups without reinventing storage or delivery.

For self-hosted model teams, it’s the packaging layer that ties model weights to their training data, configuration, and documentation. For agentic AI teams, it’s the versioning system that ties prompts, skills, and MCP configs to a known-good state. For teams doing both, it’s one format that covers everything.

## ModelPack Format Support

KitOps supports both **ModelKit** and **ModelPack** artifact formats:

* **ModelKit** (default) — KitOps' native format with integrated Kitfile configuration
* **ModelPack** — The [CNCF model-spec format](https://github.com/modelpack/model-spec) for vendor-neutral AI/ML interchange

### Using ModelPack Format

To pack artifacts in ModelPack format, use the `--use-model-pack` flag:

```sh
kit pack . --use-model-pack -t registry/repo:tag
```

### Compatibility

All Kit CLI commands work transparently with both formats:

* `kit pull` — Works with ModelKit and ModelPack artifacts
* `kit unpack` — Extracts contents from either format
* `kit inspect` — Shows manifests for both types
* `kit list` — Displays artifacts regardless of format
* `kit push` — Pushes any supported artifact type

When you pack with `--use-model-pack`, your Kitfile is preserved as a manifest annotation, ensuring you can still retrieve and use it with Kit commands.

**Note:** ModelPack artifacts created by other tools (not Kit) may not include a Kitfile. Kit can still unpack these artifacts if they use the `org.cncf.model.filepath` annotation to specify file paths.

***

**Have feedback or questions?**
Open an [issue on GitHub](https://github.com/kitops-ml/kitops/issues) or [join us on Discord](https://discord.gg/Tapeh8agYy).