diff --git a/jgvariant-core/src/main/java/eu/mulk/jgvariant/core/Decoder.java b/jgvariant-core/src/main/java/eu/mulk/jgvariant/core/Decoder.java
index 4538900..a28d792 100644
--- a/jgvariant-core/src/main/java/eu/mulk/jgvariant/core/Decoder.java
+++ b/jgvariant-core/src/main/java/eu/mulk/jgvariant/core/Decoder.java
@@ -4,15 +4,21 @@
 
 package eu.mulk.jgvariant.core;
 
+import static java.lang.Math.max;
 import static java.nio.ByteOrder.LITTLE_ENDIAN;
+import static java.nio.charset.StandardCharsets.UTF_8;
 import static java.util.Objects.requireNonNullElse;
 import static java.util.stream.Collectors.toMap;
 
 import com.google.errorprone.annotations.Immutable;
+
+import java.io.ByteArrayOutputStream;
+import java.io.IOException;
 import java.lang.reflect.InvocationTargetException;
 import java.lang.reflect.RecordComponent;
 import java.nio.ByteBuffer;
 import java.nio.ByteOrder;
+import java.nio.channels.Channels;
 import java.nio.charset.Charset;
 import java.text.ParseException;
 import java.util.ArrayList;
@@ -25,6 +31,7 @@
 import java.util.function.Function;
 import java.util.function.Predicate;
 import java.util.function.UnaryOperator;
+
 import org.apiguardian.api.API;
 import org.apiguardian.api.API.Status;
 import org.jetbrains.annotations.NotNull;
@@ -80,10 +87,24 @@
    */
   public abstract @NotNull T decode(ByteBuffer byteSlice);
 
+  /**
+   * Encodes a value of type {@code T} into a {@link ByteBuffer} holding a serialized GVariant.
+   *
+   * @param value the value to serialize.
+   * @return a {@link ByteBuffer} holding the serialized value.
+   */
+  public final ByteBuffer encode(T value) {
+    var byteWriter = new ByteWriter();
+    encode(value, byteWriter);
+    return byteWriter.toByteBuffer();
+  }
+
   abstract byte alignment();
 
   abstract @Nullable Integer fixedSize();
 
+  abstract void encode(T value, ByteWriter byteWriter);
+
   final boolean hasFixedSize() {
     return fixedSize() != null;
   }
@@ -105,8 +126,8 @@
    * @return a new, decorated {@link Decoder}.
    * @see java.util.stream.Stream#map
    */
-  public final <U> Decoder<U> map(Function<@NotNull T, @NotNull U> function) {
-    return new MappingDecoder<>(function);
+  public final <U> Decoder<U> map(Function<@NotNull T, @NotNull U> decodingFunction, Function<@NotNull U, @NotNull T> encodingFunction) {
+    return new MappingDecoder<>(decodingFunction, encodingFunction);
   }
 
   /**
@@ -116,8 +137,8 @@
    * @return a new, decorated {@link Decoder}.
    * @see java.util.stream.Stream#map
    */
-  public final Decoder<T> contramap(UnaryOperator<ByteBuffer> function) {
-    return new ContramappingDecoder(function);
+  public final Decoder<T> contramap(UnaryOperator<ByteBuffer> decodingFunction, UnaryOperator<ByteBuffer> encodingFunction) {
+    return new ContramappingDecoder(decodingFunction, encodingFunction);
   }
 
   /**
@@ -335,6 +356,22 @@
     return n < (1 << 8) ? 1 : n < (1 << 16) ? 2 : 4;
   }
 
+  private static int computeFramingOffsetSize(int elementsRelativeEnd, List<Integer> framingOffsets) {
+    // Determining the framing offset size requires trial and error.
+    int framingOffsetSize;
+    for (framingOffsetSize = 0;; framingOffsetSize = max(1, framingOffsetSize << 1)) {
+      if (elementsRelativeEnd + framingOffsetSize* framingOffsets.size() >= 1 << (8*framingOffsetSize)) {
+        continue;
+      }
+
+      if (framingOffsetSize > 4) {
+        throw new IllegalArgumentException("too many framing offsets");
+      }
+
+      return framingOffsetSize;
+    }
+  }
+
   private static class ArrayDecoder<U> extends Decoder<List<U>> {
 
     private final Decoder<U> elementDecoder;
@@ -391,6 +428,33 @@
 
       return elements;
     }
+
+    @Override
+    void encode(List<U> value, ByteWriter byteWriter) {
+      if (elementDecoder.hasFixedSize()) {
+        for (var element : value) {
+          elementDecoder.encode(element, byteWriter);
+        }
+      } else {
+        // Variable-width arrays are encoded with a vector of framing offsets in the end.
+        ArrayList<Integer> framingOffsets = new ArrayList<>(value.size());
+        int startOffset = byteWriter.position();
+        for (var element : value) {
+          elementDecoder.encode(element, byteWriter);
+          var relativeEnd = byteWriter.position() - startOffset;
+          framingOffsets.add(relativeEnd);
+
+          // Align the next element.
+          byteWriter.write(new byte[align(relativeEnd, alignment()) - relativeEnd]);
+        }
+
+        // Write the framing offsets.
+        int framingOffsetSize = computeFramingOffsetSize(byteWriter.position() - startOffset, framingOffsets);
+        for (var framingOffset : framingOffsets) {
+          byteWriter.writeIntN(framingOffset, framingOffsetSize);
+        }
+      }
+    }
   }
 
   private static class DictionaryDecoder<K, V> extends Decoder<Map<K, V>> {
@@ -418,6 +482,11 @@
       List<Map.Entry<K, V>> entries = entryArrayDecoder.decode(byteSlice);
       return entries.stream().collect(toMap(Entry::getKey, Entry::getValue));
     }
+
+    @Override
+    void encode(Map<K, V> value, ByteWriter byteWriter) {
+      entryArrayDecoder.encode(value.entrySet().stream().toList(), byteWriter);
+    }
   }
 
   private static class ByteArrayDecoder extends Decoder<byte[]> {
@@ -442,6 +511,11 @@
       byteSlice.get(elements);
       return elements;
     }
+
+    @Override
+    void encode(byte[] value, ByteWriter byteWriter) {
+      byteWriter.write(value);
+    }
   }
 
   private static class MaybeDecoder<U> extends Decoder<Optional<U>> {
@@ -476,6 +550,18 @@
         return Optional.of(elementDecoder.decode(byteSlice));
       }
     }
+
+    @Override
+    void encode(Optional<U> value, ByteWriter byteWriter) {
+      if (value.isEmpty()) {
+        return;
+      }
+
+      elementDecoder.encode(value.get(), byteWriter);
+      if (!elementDecoder.hasFixedSize()) {
+        byteWriter.write((byte) 0);
+      }
+    }
   }
 
   private static class StructureDecoder<U extends Record> extends Decoder<U> {
@@ -523,6 +609,22 @@
         throw new IllegalStateException(e);
       }
     }
+
+    @Override
+    void encode(U value, ByteWriter byteWriter) {
+      try {
+        var components = recordType.getRecordComponents();
+        List<Object> componentValues = new ArrayList<>(components.length);
+        for (var component : components) {
+          var accessor = component.getAccessor();
+          var componentValue = accessor.invoke(value);
+          componentValues.add(componentValue);
+        }
+        tupleDecoder.encode(componentValues.toArray(), byteWriter);
+      } catch (IllegalAccessException | InvocationTargetException e) {
+        throw new IllegalStateException(e);
+      }
+    }
   }
 
   @SuppressWarnings("Immutable")
@@ -604,6 +706,33 @@
 
       return objects;
     }
+
+    @Override
+    @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
+    void encode(Object[] value, ByteWriter byteWriter) {
+      int startOffset = byteWriter.position();
+      ArrayList<Integer> framingOffsets = new ArrayList<>(value.length);
+      for (int i = 0; i < value.length; ++i) {
+        var componentDecoder = (Decoder<Object>) componentDecoders[i];
+        componentDecoder.encode(value[i], byteWriter);
+
+        var relativeEnd = byteWriter.position() - startOffset;
+
+        var fixedComponentSize = componentDecoders[i].fixedSize();
+        if (fixedComponentSize == null && i < value.length - 1) {
+          framingOffsets.add(relativeEnd);
+        }
+
+        // Align the next element.
+        byteWriter.write(new byte[align(relativeEnd, alignment()) - relativeEnd]);
+      }
+
+      // Write the framing offsets in reverse order.
+      int framingOffsetSize = computeFramingOffsetSize(byteWriter.position() - startOffset, framingOffsets);
+      for (int i = framingOffsets.size() - 1; i >= 0; --i) {
+        byteWriter.writeIntN(framingOffsets.get(i), framingOffsetSize);
+      }
+    }
   }
 
   private static class DictionaryEntryDecoder<K, V> extends Decoder<Map.Entry<K, V>> {
@@ -630,6 +759,11 @@
       Object[] components = tupleDecoder.decode(byteSlice);
       return Map.entry((K) components[0], (V) components[1]);
     }
+
+    @Override
+    void encode(Entry<K, V> value, ByteWriter byteWriter) {
+      tupleDecoder.encode(new Object[] {value.getKey(), value.getValue()}, byteWriter);
+    }
   }
 
   private static class VariantDecoder extends Decoder<Variant> {
@@ -667,6 +801,13 @@
 
       throw new IllegalArgumentException("variant signature not found");
     }
+
+    @Override
+    void encode(Variant value, ByteWriter byteWriter) {
+      value.signature().decoder().encode(value.value(), byteWriter);
+      byteWriter.write((byte) 0);
+      byteWriter.write(value.signature().toString().getBytes(UTF_8));
+    }
   }
 
   private static class BooleanDecoder extends Decoder<Boolean> {
@@ -685,6 +826,11 @@
     public @NotNull Boolean decode(ByteBuffer byteSlice) {
       return byteSlice.get() != 0;
     }
+
+    @Override
+    void encode(Boolean value, ByteWriter byteWriter) {
+      byteWriter.write(Boolean.TRUE.equals(value) ? (byte) 1 : (byte) 0);
+    }
   }
 
   private static class ByteDecoder extends Decoder<Byte> {
@@ -703,6 +849,11 @@
     public @NotNull Byte decode(ByteBuffer byteSlice) {
       return byteSlice.get();
     }
+
+    @Override
+    void encode(Byte value, ByteWriter byteWriter) {
+      byteWriter.write(value);
+    }
   }
 
   private static class ShortDecoder extends Decoder<Short> {
@@ -721,6 +872,11 @@
     public @NotNull Short decode(ByteBuffer byteSlice) {
       return byteSlice.getShort();
     }
+
+    @Override
+    void encode(Short value, ByteWriter byteWriter) {
+      byteWriter.write(value);
+    }
   }
 
   private static class IntegerDecoder extends Decoder<Integer> {
@@ -739,6 +895,11 @@
     public @NotNull Integer decode(ByteBuffer byteSlice) {
       return byteSlice.getInt();
     }
+
+    @Override
+    void encode(Integer value, ByteWriter byteWriter) {
+      byteWriter.write(value);
+    }
   }
 
   private static class LongDecoder extends Decoder<Long> {
@@ -757,6 +918,11 @@
     public @NotNull Long decode(ByteBuffer byteSlice) {
       return byteSlice.getLong();
     }
+
+    @Override
+    void encode(Long value, ByteWriter byteWriter) {
+      byteWriter.write(value);
+    }
   }
 
   private static class DoubleDecoder extends Decoder<Double> {
@@ -775,6 +941,11 @@
     public @NotNull Double decode(ByteBuffer byteSlice) {
       return byteSlice.getDouble();
     }
+
+    @Override
+    void encode(Double value, ByteWriter byteWriter) {
+      byteWriter.write(value);
+    }
   }
 
   private static class StringDecoder extends Decoder<String> {
@@ -801,15 +972,23 @@
       byteSlice.limit(byteSlice.limit() - 1);
       return charset.decode(byteSlice).toString();
     }
+
+    @Override
+    void encode(String value, ByteWriter byteWriter) {
+      byteWriter.write(charset.encode(value));
+      byteWriter.write((byte) 0);
+    }
   }
 
   @SuppressWarnings("Immutable")
   private class MappingDecoder<U> extends Decoder<U> {
 
-    private final Function<@NotNull T, @NotNull U> function;
+    private final Function<@NotNull T, @NotNull U> decodingFunction;
+    private final Function<@NotNull U, @NotNull T> encodingFunction;
 
-    MappingDecoder(Function<@NotNull T, @NotNull U> function) {
-      this.function = function;
+    MappingDecoder(Function<@NotNull T, @NotNull U> decodingFunction, Function<@NotNull U, @NotNull T> encodingFunction) {
+      this.decodingFunction = decodingFunction;
+      this.encodingFunction = encodingFunction;
     }
 
     @Override
@@ -824,17 +1003,24 @@
 
     @Override
     public @NotNull U decode(ByteBuffer byteSlice) {
-      return function.apply(Decoder.this.decode(byteSlice));
+      return decodingFunction.apply(Decoder.this.decode(byteSlice));
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    void encode(U value, ByteWriter byteWriter) {
+      Decoder.this.encode(encodingFunction.apply(value), byteWriter);
     }
   }
 
   @SuppressWarnings("Immutable")
   private class ContramappingDecoder extends Decoder<T> {
 
-    private final UnaryOperator<ByteBuffer> function;
+    private final UnaryOperator<ByteBuffer> decodingFunction;
+    private final UnaryOperator<ByteBuffer> encodingFunction;
 
-    ContramappingDecoder(UnaryOperator<ByteBuffer> function) {
-      this.function = function;
+    ContramappingDecoder(UnaryOperator<ByteBuffer> decodingFunction, UnaryOperator<ByteBuffer> encodingFunction) {
+      this.decodingFunction = decodingFunction;
+      this.encodingFunction = encodingFunction;
     }
 
     @Override
@@ -849,9 +1035,17 @@
 
     @Override
     public @NotNull T decode(ByteBuffer byteSlice) {
-      var transformedBuffer = function.apply(byteSlice.asReadOnlyBuffer().order(byteSlice.order()));
+      var transformedBuffer = decodingFunction.apply(byteSlice.asReadOnlyBuffer().order(byteSlice.order()));
       return Decoder.this.decode(transformedBuffer);
     }
+
+    @Override
+    void encode(T value, ByteWriter byteWriter) {
+      var innerByteWriter = new ByteWriter();
+      Decoder.this.encode(value, innerByteWriter);
+      var transformedBuffer = encodingFunction.apply(innerByteWriter.toByteBuffer());
+      byteWriter.write(transformedBuffer);
+    }
   }
 
   private class ByteOrderFixingDecoder extends Decoder<T> {
@@ -878,6 +1072,13 @@
       newByteSlice.order(byteOrder);
       return Decoder.this.decode(newByteSlice);
     }
+
+    @Override
+    protected void encode(T value, ByteWriter byteWriter) {
+      var newByteWriter = byteWriter.duplicate();
+      newByteWriter.order(byteOrder);
+      Decoder.this.encode(value, newByteWriter);
+    }
   }
 
   private static ByteBuffer slicePreservingOrder(ByteBuffer byteSlice, int index, int length) {
@@ -927,5 +1128,92 @@
       byteSlice.rewind();
       return b ? thenDecoder.decode(byteSlice) : elseDecoder.decode(byteSlice);
     }
+
+    @Override
+    public void encode(U value, ByteWriter byteWriter) {
+      elseDecoder.encode(value, byteWriter);
+    }
+  }
+
+  private static class ByteWriter {
+    private ByteOrder byteOrder = ByteOrder.nativeOrder();
+    private final ByteArrayOutputStream outputStream;
+
+    ByteWriter() {
+      this.outputStream = new ByteArrayOutputStream();
+    }
+
+    private ByteWriter(ByteArrayOutputStream outputStream) {
+      this.outputStream = outputStream;
+    }
+
+    void write(byte[] bytes) {
+      outputStream.write(bytes, 0, bytes.length);
+    }
+
+    @SuppressWarnings("java:S2095")
+    void write(ByteBuffer byteBuffer) {
+      var channel = Channels.newChannel(outputStream);
+      try {
+        channel.write(byteBuffer);
+      } catch (IOException e) {
+        // impossible
+        throw new IllegalStateException(e);
+      }
+    }
+
+    void write(byte value) {
+      outputStream.write(value);
+    }
+
+    void write(int value) {
+      write(ByteBuffer.allocate(4).order(byteOrder).putInt(value));
+    }
+
+    void write(long value) {
+      write(ByteBuffer.allocate(8).order(byteOrder).putLong(value));
+    }
+
+    void write(short value) {
+      write(ByteBuffer.allocate(2).order(byteOrder).putShort(value));
+    }
+
+    void write(double value) {
+      write(ByteBuffer.allocate(8).order(byteOrder).putDouble(value));
+    }
+
+    private void writeIntN(int value, int byteCount) {
+      var byteBuffer = ByteBuffer.allocate(byteCount).order(LITTLE_ENDIAN);
+        switch (byteCount) {
+          case 0 -> {}
+          case 1 ->
+            byteBuffer.put((byte) value);
+          case 2 ->
+            byteBuffer.putShort((short) value);
+          case 4 ->
+            byteBuffer.putInt(value);
+          default ->
+            throw new IllegalArgumentException("invalid byte count: %d".formatted(byteCount));
+        }
+      write(byteBuffer);
+    }
+
+    ByteWriter duplicate() {
+        var duplicate = new ByteWriter(outputStream);
+        duplicate.byteOrder = byteOrder;
+        return duplicate;
+    }
+
+    ByteBuffer toByteBuffer() {
+      return ByteBuffer.wrap(outputStream.toByteArray());
+    }
+
+    void order(ByteOrder byteOrder) {
+        this.byteOrder = byteOrder;
+    }
+
+    int position() {
+      return outputStream.size();
+    }
   }
 }
diff --git a/jgvariant-core/src/test/java/eu/mulk/jgvariant/core/DecoderTest.java b/jgvariant-core/src/test/java/eu/mulk/jgvariant/core/DecoderTest.java
index 6399f6e..068b051 100644
--- a/jgvariant-core/src/test/java/eu/mulk/jgvariant/core/DecoderTest.java
+++ b/jgvariant-core/src/test/java/eu/mulk/jgvariant/core/DecoderTest.java
@@ -517,21 +517,39 @@
   @Test
   void map() {
     var data = new byte[] {0x0A, 0x0B, 0x0C};
-    var decoder = Decoder.ofByteArray().map(bytes -> bytes.length);
+    var decoder =
+        Decoder.ofByteArray()
+            .map(
+                bytes -> bytes.length,
+                len -> {
+                  throw new UnsupportedOperationException();
+                });
     assertEquals(3, decoder.decode(ByteBuffer.wrap(data)));
   }
 
   @Test
   void contramap() {
     var data = new byte[] {0x0A, 0x0B, 0x0C};
-    var decoder = Decoder.ofByteArray().contramap(bytes -> bytes.slice(1, 1));
+    var decoder =
+        Decoder.ofByteArray()
+            .contramap(
+                bytes -> bytes.slice(1, 1),
+                bytes -> {
+                  throw new UnsupportedOperationException();
+                });
     assertArrayEquals(new byte[] {0x0B}, decoder.decode(ByteBuffer.wrap(data)));
   }
 
   @Test
   void predicateTrue() {
     var data = new byte[] {0x00, 0x01, 0x00};
-    var innerDecoder = Decoder.ofShort().contramap(bytes -> bytes.slice(1, 2).order(bytes.order()));
+    var innerDecoder =
+        Decoder.ofShort()
+            .contramap(
+                bytes -> bytes.slice(1, 2).order(bytes.order()),
+                bytes -> {
+                  throw new UnsupportedOperationException();
+                });
     var decoder =
         Decoder.ofPredicate(
             byteBuffer -> byteBuffer.get(0) == 0,
@@ -543,7 +561,13 @@
   @Test
   void predicateFalse() {
     var data = new byte[] {0x01, 0x01, 0x00};
-    var innerDecoder = Decoder.ofShort().contramap(bytes -> bytes.slice(1, 2).order(bytes.order()));
+    var innerDecoder =
+        Decoder.ofShort()
+            .contramap(
+                bytes -> bytes.slice(1, 2).order(bytes.order()),
+                bytes -> {
+                  throw new UnsupportedOperationException();
+                });
     var decoder =
         Decoder.ofPredicate(
             byteBuffer -> byteBuffer.get(0) == 0,
diff --git a/jgvariant-ostree/src/main/java/eu/mulk/jgvariant/ostree/ByteString.java b/jgvariant-ostree/src/main/java/eu/mulk/jgvariant/ostree/ByteString.java
index cfe3635..3bd8b25 100644
--- a/jgvariant-ostree/src/main/java/eu/mulk/jgvariant/ostree/ByteString.java
+++ b/jgvariant-ostree/src/main/java/eu/mulk/jgvariant/ostree/ByteString.java
@@ -20,7 +20,8 @@
  */
 public record ByteString(byte[] bytes) {
 
-  private static final Decoder<ByteString> DECODER = Decoder.ofByteArray().map(ByteString::new);
+  private static final Decoder<ByteString> DECODER =
+      Decoder.ofByteArray().map(ByteString::new, ByteString::bytes);
 
   /**
    * Returns a decoder for a {@code byte[]} that wraps the result in {@link ByteString}.
diff --git a/jgvariant-ostree/src/main/java/eu/mulk/jgvariant/ostree/Checksum.java b/jgvariant-ostree/src/main/java/eu/mulk/jgvariant/ostree/Checksum.java
index 261e2be..829664e 100644
--- a/jgvariant-ostree/src/main/java/eu/mulk/jgvariant/ostree/Checksum.java
+++ b/jgvariant-ostree/src/main/java/eu/mulk/jgvariant/ostree/Checksum.java
@@ -17,7 +17,8 @@
 
   private static final int SIZE = 32;
 
-  private static final Decoder<Checksum> DECODER = ByteString.decoder().map(Checksum::new);
+  private static final Decoder<Checksum> DECODER =
+      ByteString.decoder().map(Checksum::new, Checksum::byteString);
 
   public Checksum {
     if (byteString.size() == 0) {
diff --git a/jgvariant-ostree/src/main/java/eu/mulk/jgvariant/ostree/DeltaFallback.java b/jgvariant-ostree/src/main/java/eu/mulk/jgvariant/ostree/DeltaFallback.java
index 57c8fc5..08e0b8c 100644
--- a/jgvariant-ostree/src/main/java/eu/mulk/jgvariant/ostree/DeltaFallback.java
+++ b/jgvariant-ostree/src/main/java/eu/mulk/jgvariant/ostree/DeltaFallback.java
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@
   private static final Decoder<DeltaFallback> DECODER =
       Decoder.ofStructure(
           DeltaFallback.class,
-          Decoder.ofByte().map(ObjectType::valueOf),
+          Decoder.ofByte().map(ObjectType::valueOf, ObjectType::byteValue),
           Checksum.decoder(),
           Decoder.ofLong(),
           Decoder.ofLong());
diff --git a/jgvariant-ostree/src/main/java/eu/mulk/jgvariant/ostree/DeltaMetaEntry.java b/jgvariant-ostree/src/main/java/eu/mulk/jgvariant/ostree/DeltaMetaEntry.java
index 8c6fd19..2be0426 100644
--- a/jgvariant-ostree/src/main/java/eu/mulk/jgvariant/ostree/DeltaMetaEntry.java
+++ b/jgvariant-ostree/src/main/java/eu/mulk/jgvariant/ostree/DeltaMetaEntry.java
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
 package eu.mulk.jgvariant.ostree;
 
 import eu.mulk.jgvariant.core.Decoder;
+import java.io.ByteArrayOutputStream;
 import java.nio.ByteBuffer;
 import java.nio.ByteOrder;
 import java.util.ArrayList;
@@ -38,7 +39,9 @@
 
     private static final Decoder<DeltaObject> DECODER =
         Decoder.ofStructure(
-            DeltaObject.class, Decoder.ofByte().map(ObjectType::valueOf), Checksum.decoder());
+            DeltaObject.class,
+            Decoder.ofByte().map(ObjectType::valueOf, ObjectType::byteValue),
+            Checksum.decoder());
 
     /**
      * Acquires a {@link Decoder} for the enclosing type.
@@ -57,7 +60,19 @@
           Checksum.decoder(),
           Decoder.ofLong(),
           Decoder.ofLong(),
-          Decoder.ofByteArray().map(DeltaMetaEntry::parseObjectList));
+          Decoder.ofByteArray()
+              .map(DeltaMetaEntry::parseObjectList, DeltaMetaEntry::serializeObjectList));
+
+  private static byte[] serializeObjectList(List<DeltaObject> deltaObjects) {
+    var output = new ByteArrayOutputStream();
+
+    for (var deltaObject : deltaObjects) {
+      output.write(deltaObject.objectType.byteValue());
+      output.writeBytes(deltaObject.checksum.byteString().bytes());
+    }
+
+    return output.toByteArray();
+  }
 
   private static List<DeltaObject> parseObjectList(byte[] bytes) {
     var byteBuffer = ByteBuffer.wrap(bytes);
diff --git a/jgvariant-ostree/src/main/java/eu/mulk/jgvariant/ostree/DeltaOperation.java b/jgvariant-ostree/src/main/java/eu/mulk/jgvariant/ostree/DeltaOperation.java
index 6edf217..d753a48 100644
--- a/jgvariant-ostree/src/main/java/eu/mulk/jgvariant/ostree/DeltaOperation.java
+++ b/jgvariant-ostree/src/main/java/eu/mulk/jgvariant/ostree/DeltaOperation.java
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 
 package eu.mulk.jgvariant.ostree;
 
+import java.io.ByteArrayOutputStream;
 import java.nio.ByteBuffer;
 
 /** An operation in a static delta. */
@@ -67,6 +68,42 @@
     };
   }
 
+  default void writeTo(ByteArrayOutputStream output) {
+    if (this instanceof OpenSpliceAndCloseMeta openSpliceAndCloseMeta) {
+      output.write(DeltaOperationType.OPEN_SPLICE_AND_CLOSE.byteValue());
+      writeVarint64(output, openSpliceAndCloseMeta.offset);
+      writeVarint64(output, openSpliceAndCloseMeta.size);
+    } else if (this instanceof OpenSpliceAndCloseReal openSpliceAndCloseReal) {
+      output.write(DeltaOperationType.OPEN_SPLICE_AND_CLOSE.byteValue());
+      writeVarint64(output, openSpliceAndCloseReal.modeOffset);
+      writeVarint64(output, openSpliceAndCloseReal.xattrOffset);
+      writeVarint64(output, openSpliceAndCloseReal.size);
+      writeVarint64(output, openSpliceAndCloseReal.offset);
+    } else if (this instanceof Open open) {
+      output.write(DeltaOperationType.OPEN.byteValue());
+      writeVarint64(output, open.modeOffset);
+      writeVarint64(output, open.xattrOffset);
+      writeVarint64(output, open.size);
+    } else if (this instanceof Write write) {
+      output.write(DeltaOperationType.WRITE.byteValue());
+      writeVarint64(output, write.size);
+      writeVarint64(output, write.offset);
+    } else if (this instanceof SetReadSource setReadSource) {
+      output.write(DeltaOperationType.SET_READ_SOURCE.byteValue());
+      writeVarint64(output, setReadSource.offset);
+    } else if (this instanceof UnsetReadSource) {
+      output.write(DeltaOperationType.UNSET_READ_SOURCE.byteValue());
+    } else if (this instanceof Close) {
+      output.write(DeltaOperationType.CLOSE.byteValue());
+    } else if (this instanceof BsPatch bsPatch) {
+      output.write(DeltaOperationType.BSPATCH.byteValue());
+      writeVarint64(output, bsPatch.offset);
+      writeVarint64(output, bsPatch.size);
+    } else {
+      throw new IllegalStateException("unrecognized delta operation: %s".formatted(this));
+    }
+  }
+
   /**
    * Reads a Protobuf varint from a byte buffer.
    *
@@ -86,4 +123,23 @@
 
     return acc;
   }
+
+  /**
+   * Writes a Protobuf varint to an output stream.
+   *
+   * @see #readVarint64
+   */
+  private static void writeVarint64(ByteArrayOutputStream output, long value) {
+    while (value != 0) {
+      byte b = (byte) (value & 0x7F);
+      value >>= 7;
+      if (value != 0) {
+        b |= (byte) 0x80;
+      }
+      output.write(b);
+      if (value == 0) {
+        break;
+      }
+    }
+  }
 }
diff --git a/jgvariant-ostree/src/main/java/eu/mulk/jgvariant/ostree/DeltaPartPayload.java b/jgvariant-ostree/src/main/java/eu/mulk/jgvariant/ostree/DeltaPartPayload.java
index f89d414..31c192d 100644
--- a/jgvariant-ostree/src/main/java/eu/mulk/jgvariant/ostree/DeltaPartPayload.java
+++ b/jgvariant-ostree/src/main/java/eu/mulk/jgvariant/ostree/DeltaPartPayload.java
@@ -8,12 +8,14 @@
 import java.io.ByteArrayInputStream;
 import java.io.ByteArrayOutputStream;
 import java.io.IOException;
-import java.io.UncheckedIOException;
 import java.nio.ByteBuffer;
 import java.nio.ByteOrder;
+import java.nio.channels.Channels;
 import java.util.ArrayList;
 import java.util.List;
+import org.tukaani.xz.LZMA2Options;
 import org.tukaani.xz.XZInputStream;
+import org.tukaani.xz.XZOutputStream;
 
 /**
  * A payload file from a static delta.
@@ -36,7 +38,7 @@
     ByteString rawDataSource,
     List<DeltaOperation> operations) {
 
-  private static ByteBuffer preparse(ByteBuffer byteBuffer) {
+  private static ByteBuffer decompress(ByteBuffer byteBuffer) {
     byte compressionByte = byteBuffer.get(0);
     var dataSlice = byteBuffer.slice(1, byteBuffer.limit() - 1);
     return switch (compressionByte) {
@@ -53,7 +55,7 @@
           yield ByteBuffer.wrap(decompressedOutputStream.toByteArray());
         } catch (IOException e) {
           // impossible
-          throw new UncheckedIOException(e);
+          throw new IllegalStateException(e);
         }
       }
       default -> throw new IllegalArgumentException(
@@ -61,10 +63,42 @@
     };
   }
 
+  private static ByteBuffer compress(ByteBuffer dataSlice) {
+    var dataBytes = new byte[dataSlice.limit()];
+    dataSlice.get(dataBytes);
+    var compressedOutputStream = new ByteArrayOutputStream();
+
+    byte compressionByte = 'x';
+    compressedOutputStream.write(compressionByte);
+
+    try (var compressingOutputStream =
+            new XZOutputStream(compressedOutputStream, new LZMA2Options());
+        var compressingChannel = Channels.newChannel(compressingOutputStream)) {
+      compressingChannel.write(dataSlice);
+      compressingOutputStream.write(dataBytes);
+    } catch (IOException e) {
+      // impossible
+      throw new IllegalStateException(e);
+    }
+
+    var compressedBytes = compressedOutputStream.toByteArray();
+    return ByteBuffer.wrap(compressedBytes);
+  }
+
+  private static byte[] serializeDeltaOperationList(List<DeltaOperation> deltaOperations) {
+    var output = new ByteArrayOutputStream();
+
+    for (var currentOperation : deltaOperations) {
+      currentOperation.writeTo(output);
+    }
+
+    return output.toByteArray();
+  }
+
   private static List<DeltaOperation> parseDeltaOperationList(
-      ByteString byteString, List<ObjectType> objectTypes) {
+      byte[] bytes, List<ObjectType> objectTypes) {
     List<DeltaOperation> deltaOperations = new ArrayList<>();
-    var byteBuffer = ByteBuffer.wrap(byteString.bytes());
+    var byteBuffer = ByteBuffer.wrap(bytes);
     int objectIndex = 0;
 
     while (byteBuffer.hasRemaining()) {
@@ -119,8 +153,10 @@
             Decoder.ofArray(FileMode.decoder()),
             Decoder.ofArray(Decoder.ofArray(Xattr.decoder())),
             ByteString.decoder(),
-            ByteString.decoder()
-                .map(byteString -> parseDeltaOperationList(byteString, objectTypes)))
-        .contramap(DeltaPartPayload::preparse);
+            Decoder.ofByteArray()
+                .map(
+                    bytes -> parseDeltaOperationList(bytes, objectTypes),
+                    deltaOperations -> serializeDeltaOperationList(deltaOperations)))
+        .contramap(DeltaPartPayload::decompress, DeltaPartPayload::compress);
   }
 }
diff --git a/jgvariant-ostree/src/main/java/eu/mulk/jgvariant/ostree/DeltaSuperblock.java b/jgvariant-ostree/src/main/java/eu/mulk/jgvariant/ostree/DeltaSuperblock.java
index 50da203..9513fa0 100644
--- a/jgvariant-ostree/src/main/java/eu/mulk/jgvariant/ostree/DeltaSuperblock.java
+++ b/jgvariant-ostree/src/main/java/eu/mulk/jgvariant/ostree/DeltaSuperblock.java
@@ -5,10 +5,16 @@
 package eu.mulk.jgvariant.ostree;
 
 import eu.mulk.jgvariant.core.Decoder;
+import eu.mulk.jgvariant.core.Signature;
+import eu.mulk.jgvariant.core.Variant;
+import java.io.ByteArrayOutputStream;
 import java.nio.ByteBuffer;
 import java.nio.ByteOrder;
+import java.text.ParseException;
 import java.util.ArrayList;
+import java.util.HashMap;
 import java.util.List;
+import java.util.Map;
 
 /**
  * A static delta.
@@ -67,10 +73,34 @@
               Checksum.decoder(),
               Checksum.decoder(),
               Commit.decoder(),
-              Decoder.ofByteArray().map(DeltaSuperblock::parseDeltaNameList),
+              Decoder.ofByteArray()
+                  .map(
+                      DeltaSuperblock::parseDeltaNameList, DeltaSuperblock::serializeDeltaNameList),
               Decoder.ofArray(DeltaMetaEntry.decoder()).withByteOrder(ByteOrder.LITTLE_ENDIAN),
               Decoder.ofArray(DeltaFallback.decoder()).withByteOrder(ByteOrder.LITTLE_ENDIAN))
-          .map(DeltaSuperblock::byteSwappedIfBigEndian);
+          .map(DeltaSuperblock::byteSwappedIfBigEndian, DeltaSuperblock::withSpecifiedByteOrder);
+
+  private DeltaSuperblock withSpecifiedByteOrder() {
+    Map<String, Variant> extendedMetadataMap = new HashMap<>(metadata().fields());
+
+    try {
+      extendedMetadataMap.putIfAbsent(
+          "ostree.endianness", new Variant(Signature.parse("y"), (byte) 'l'));
+    } catch (ParseException e) {
+      // impossible
+      throw new IllegalStateException(e);
+    }
+
+    return new DeltaSuperblock(
+        new Metadata(extendedMetadataMap),
+        timestamp,
+        fromChecksum,
+        toChecksum,
+        commit,
+        dependencies,
+        entries,
+        fallbacks);
+  }
 
   private DeltaSuperblock byteSwappedIfBigEndian() {
     // Fix up the endianness of the 'entries' and 'fallbacks' fields, which have
@@ -97,6 +127,17 @@
         fallbacks.stream().map(DeltaFallback::byteSwapped).toList());
   }
 
+  private static byte[] serializeDeltaNameList(List<DeltaName> deltaNames) {
+    var output = new ByteArrayOutputStream();
+
+    for (var deltaName : deltaNames) {
+      output.writeBytes(deltaName.fromChecksum().byteString().bytes());
+      output.writeBytes(deltaName.toChecksum().byteString().bytes());
+    }
+
+    return output.toByteArray();
+  }
+
   private static List<DeltaName> parseDeltaNameList(byte[] bytes) {
     var byteBuffer = ByteBuffer.wrap(bytes);
     List<DeltaName> deltaNames = new ArrayList<>();
diff --git a/jgvariant-ostree/src/main/java/eu/mulk/jgvariant/ostree/Metadata.java b/jgvariant-ostree/src/main/java/eu/mulk/jgvariant/ostree/Metadata.java
index 62f0331..f485be1 100644
--- a/jgvariant-ostree/src/main/java/eu/mulk/jgvariant/ostree/Metadata.java
+++ b/jgvariant-ostree/src/main/java/eu/mulk/jgvariant/ostree/Metadata.java
@@ -20,7 +20,8 @@
 public record Metadata(Map<String, Variant> fields) {
 
   private static final Decoder<Metadata> DECODER =
-      Decoder.ofDictionary(Decoder.ofString(UTF_8), Decoder.ofVariant()).map(Metadata::new);
+      Decoder.ofDictionary(Decoder.ofString(UTF_8), Decoder.ofVariant())
+          .map(Metadata::new, Metadata::fields);
 
   /**
    * Acquires a {@link Decoder} for the enclosing type.
diff --git a/jgvariant-ostree/src/main/java/eu/mulk/jgvariant/ostree/SignedDelta.java b/jgvariant-ostree/src/main/java/eu/mulk/jgvariant/ostree/SignedDelta.java
index 827d5e4..1e1e58e 100644
--- a/jgvariant-ostree/src/main/java/eu/mulk/jgvariant/ostree/SignedDelta.java
+++ b/jgvariant-ostree/src/main/java/eu/mulk/jgvariant/ostree/SignedDelta.java
@@ -31,11 +31,18 @@
       Decoder.ofStructure(
           SignedDelta.class,
           Decoder.ofLong().withByteOrder(ByteOrder.BIG_ENDIAN),
-          ByteString.decoder().map(SignedDelta::decodeSuperblock),
+          Decoder.ofByteArray().map(SignedDelta::decodeSuperblock, SignedDelta::encodeSuperblock),
           Decoder.ofDictionary(Decoder.ofString(US_ASCII), Decoder.ofVariant()));
 
-  private static DeltaSuperblock decodeSuperblock(ByteString byteString) {
-    return DeltaSuperblock.decoder().decode(ByteBuffer.wrap(byteString.bytes()));
+  private static DeltaSuperblock decodeSuperblock(byte[] bytes) {
+    return DeltaSuperblock.decoder().decode(ByteBuffer.wrap(bytes));
+  }
+
+  private static byte[] encodeSuperblock(DeltaSuperblock deltaSuperblock) {
+    var byteBuffer = DeltaSuperblock.decoder().encode(deltaSuperblock);
+    byte[] bytes = new byte[byteBuffer.remaining()];
+    byteBuffer.get(bytes);
+    return bytes;
   }
 
   /**
diff --git a/jgvariant-ostree/src/main/java/eu/mulk/jgvariant/ostree/SummarySignature.java b/jgvariant-ostree/src/main/java/eu/mulk/jgvariant/ostree/SummarySignature.java
index 3c88759..5834c91 100644
--- a/jgvariant-ostree/src/main/java/eu/mulk/jgvariant/ostree/SummarySignature.java
+++ b/jgvariant-ostree/src/main/java/eu/mulk/jgvariant/ostree/SummarySignature.java
@@ -22,7 +22,8 @@
 public record SummarySignature(Map<String, Variant> signatures) {
 
   private static final Decoder<SummarySignature> DECODER =
-      Decoder.ofDictionary(Decoder.ofString(UTF_8), Decoder.ofVariant()).map(SummarySignature::new);
+      Decoder.ofDictionary(Decoder.ofString(UTF_8), Decoder.ofVariant())
+          .map(SummarySignature::new, SummarySignature::signatures);
 
   /**
    * Acquires a {@link Decoder} for the enclosing type.