diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yml b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
index 2b4d6e8..acbbd7f 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@ jobs:
           "node",
           "playwright-deps",
           "sonar-scanner-cli",
+          "system-packages",
           "timezone",
           "vault-cli",
           "zig"
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 036ef4f..b333188 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@ Below is a list with included features, click on the link for more details.
 | [node](./features/src/node/README.md) | A package which installs Node.js. |
 | [playwright-deps](./features/src/playwright-deps/README.md) | A package which installs the needed dependencies to run Playwright. |
 | [sonar-scanner-cli](./features/src/sonar-scanner-cli/README.md) | A package which installs the SonarScanner CLI. |
+| [system-packages](./features/src/system-packages/README.md) | Install arbitrary system packages using apt or apk. |
 | [timezone](./features/src/timezone/README.md) | A package which allows setting the timezone. |
 | [vault-cli](./features/src/vault-cli/README.md) | A feature which installs the Vault CLI. |
 | [zig](./features/src/zig/README.md) | A feature which installs Zig. |
diff --git a/build/build.go b/build/build.go
index eec263c..5ab9649 100644
--- a/build/build.go
+++ b/build/build.go
@@ -278,6 +278,17 @@ func init() {
 		return publishFeature("sonar-scanner-cli")
 	})
 
+	////////// system-packages
+	gotaskr.Task("Feature:system-packages:Package", func() error {
+		return packageFeature("system-packages")
+	})
+	gotaskr.Task("Feature:system-packages:Test", func() error {
+		return testFeature("system-packages")
+	})
+	gotaskr.Task("Feature:system-packages:Publish", func() error {
+		return publishFeature("system-packages")
+	})
+
 	////////// timezone
 	gotaskr.Task("Feature:timezone:Package", func() error {
 		return packageFeature("timezone")
diff --git a/features/src/system-packages/NOTES.md b/features/src/system-packages/NOTES.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f0525fa
--- /dev/null
+++ b/features/src/system-packages/NOTES.md
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+## Notes
+
+### System Compatibility
+
+Debian, Ubuntu, Alpine
diff --git a/features/src/system-packages/README.md b/features/src/system-packages/README.md
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..a229b50
--- /dev/null
+++ b/features/src/system-packages/README.md
@@ -0,0 +1,25 @@
+# System Packages (system-packages)
+
+Install arbitrary system packages using apt or apk.
+
+## Example Usage
+
+```json
+"features": {
+    "ghcr.io/postfinance/devcontainer-features/system-packages:0.1.0": {
+        "packages": ""
+    }
+}
+```
+
+## Options
+
+| Option | Description | Type | Default Value | Proposals |
+|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|
+| packages | Comma-separated list of system packages to install. | string | <empty> | curl,git,htop, sshpass,yamllint,yq,gettext-base |
+
+## Notes
+
+### System Compatibility
+
+Debian, Ubuntu, Alpine
diff --git a/features/src/system-packages/devcontainer-feature.json b/features/src/system-packages/devcontainer-feature.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..50f6c79
--- /dev/null
+++ b/features/src/system-packages/devcontainer-feature.json
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+{
+  "id": "system-packages",
+  "version": "0.1.0",
+  "name": "System Packages",
+  "description": "Install arbitrary system packages using apt or apk.",
+  "options": {
+    "packages": {
+      "type": "string",
+      "description": "Comma-separated list of system packages to install.",
+      "proposals": [
+        "curl,git,htop",
+        "sshpass,yamllint,yq,gettext-base"
+      ],
+      "default": ""
+    }
+  }
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/features/src/system-packages/install.sh b/features/src/system-packages/install.sh
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1a0580d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/features/src/system-packages/install.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+. ./functions.sh
+
+"./installer_$(detect_arch)" \
+ -packages="${PACKAGES:-""}"
diff --git a/features/src/system-packages/installer.go b/features/src/system-packages/installer.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0c226ac
--- /dev/null
+++ b/features/src/system-packages/installer.go
@@ -0,0 +1,60 @@
+package main
+
+import (
+	"builder/installer"
+	"flag"
+	"fmt"
+	"os"
+	"strings"
+
+	"github.com/roemer/gover"
+)
+
+func main() {
+	if err := runMain(); err != nil {
+		fmt.Printf("Error: %v\n", err)
+		os.Exit(1)
+	}
+}
+
+func runMain() error {
+	packagesFlag := flag.String("packages", "", "Comma-separated list of system packages to install.")
+	flag.Parse()
+
+	packages := parsePackages(*packagesFlag)
+	if len(packages) == 0 {
+		fmt.Println("No packages specified for installation.")
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	feature := installer.NewFeature("System Packages", true,
+		&systemPackagesComponent{
+			ComponentBase: installer.NewComponentBase("System Packages", "system-default"),
+			Packages:      packages,
+		})
+	return feature.Process()
+}
+
+type systemPackagesComponent struct {
+	*installer.ComponentBase
+	Packages []string
+}
+
+func (c *systemPackagesComponent) InstallVersion(version *gover.Version) error {
+	return installer.Tools.System.InstallPackages(c.Packages)
+}
+
+func parsePackages(flagValue string) []string {
+	if flagValue == "" {
+		return nil
+	}
+	parts := strings.Split(flagValue, ",")
+	var pkgs []string
+	for _, p := range parts {
+		trimmed := strings.TrimSpace(p)
+		if trimmed != "" {
+			pkgs = append(pkgs, trimmed)
+		}
+	}
+	return pkgs
+}
diff --git a/features/test/system-packages/ci-utility.sh b/features/test/system-packages/ci-utility.sh
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..bad0094
--- /dev/null
+++ b/features/test/system-packages/ci-utility.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+set -e
+
+[[ -f "$(dirname "$0")/../functions.sh" ]] && source "$(dirname "$0")/../functions.sh"
+[[ -f "$(dirname "$0")/functions.sh" ]] && source "$(dirname "$0")/functions.sh"
+
+check_command_exists "yq"
+check_command_exists "yamllint"
+check_command_exists "sshpass"
diff --git a/features/test/system-packages/scenarios.json b/features/test/system-packages/scenarios.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0722a86
--- /dev/null
+++ b/features/test/system-packages/scenarios.json
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+{
+  "ci-utility": {
+    "build": {
+      "dockerfile": "Dockerfile",
+      "options": [
+        "--add-host=host.docker.internal:host-gateway"
+      ]
+    },
+    "features": {
+      "./system-packages": {
+        "packages": "yq,yamllint,sshpass"
+      }
+    }
+  }
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/features/test/system-packages/test-images.json b/features/test/system-packages/test-images.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5d01b14
--- /dev/null
+++ b/features/test/system-packages/test-images.json
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+[
+    "mcr.microsoft.com/devcontainers/base:debian-12",
+    "mcr.microsoft.com/devcontainers/base:debian-13",
+    "mcr.microsoft.com/devcontainers/base:ubuntu-24.04",
+    "mcr.microsoft.com/devcontainers/base:alpine"
+]
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/installer/apk.go b/installer/apk.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..70ab503
--- /dev/null
+++ b/installer/apk.go
@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+package installer
+
+import (
+	"strings"
+
+	"github.com/roemer/gotaskr/execr"
+)
+
+type apk struct{}
+
+func (a apk) InstallDependencies(dependencies ...string) error {
+	args := append([]string{"add", "--no-cache"}, dependencies...)
+	if err := execr.Run(true, "apk", args...); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+func (a apk) InstallLocalPackage(packagePath string) error {
+	if !strings.HasPrefix(packagePath, "./") {
+		packagePath = "./" + packagePath
+	}
+	if err := execr.Run(true, "apk", "add", "--no-cache", packagePath); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	return nil
+}
diff --git a/installer/installer_tools.go b/installer/installer_tools.go
index 800c175..2a98b29 100644
--- a/installer/installer_tools.go
+++ b/installer/installer_tools.go
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ type tools struct {
 	System      *system
 	Versioning  *versioning
 	Apt         *apt
+	Apk         *apk
 }
 
 var Tools *tools
@@ -27,5 +28,6 @@ func init() {
 		System:      &system{},
 		Versioning:  &versioning{},
 		Apt:         &apt{},
+		Apk:         &apk{},
 	}
 }
diff --git a/installer/system.go b/installer/system.go
index f0d52aa..37f8397 100644
--- a/installer/system.go
+++ b/installer/system.go
@@ -15,6 +15,21 @@ const (
 
 type system struct{}
 
+func (s *system) InstallPackages(packages []string) error {
+	osInfo, err := s.GetOsInfo()
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	switch {
+	case osInfo.IsDebian(), osInfo.IsUbuntu():
+		return Tools.Apt.InstallDependencies(packages...)
+	case osInfo.IsAlpine():
+		return Tools.Apk.InstallDependencies(packages...)
+	default:
+		return fmt.Errorf("unsupported OS vendor: %s", osInfo.Vendor)
+	}
+}
+
 func (s *system) MapArchitecture(mapping map[string]string) (string, error) {
 	mappedValue, ok := mapping[runtime.GOARCH]
 	if !ok {
@@ -58,6 +73,10 @@ func (v *OsInfo) IsUbuntu() bool {
 	return v.Vendor == "ubuntu"
 }
 
+func (v *OsInfo) IsAlpine() bool {
+	return v.Vendor == "alpine"
+}
+
 func (v *OsInfo) MajorVersion() int {
 	var major int
 	fmt.Sscanf(v.VersionId, "%d", &major)