Containers & runtimes

Docker

moby/moby

Popular

Builds and runs containers; the de-facto standard for packaging and shipping applications.

Docker Compose

docker/compose

Popular

Defines and runs multi-container apps from one YAML file; the default way to spin up local dev stacks.

Podman

podman-container-tools/podman

Daemonless, rootless Docker-compatible container engine from Red Hat with pods and systemd integration.

containerd

containerd/containerd

Popular

Industry-standard container runtime underneath Docker and most Kubernetes distributions; CNCF graduated.

OrbStack

orbstack.dev

Trending

Fast, lightweight macOS app for Docker containers and Linux VMs; a popular Docker Desktop replacement.

Colima

abiosoft/colima

Minimal CLI that runs Docker or containerd inside a Lima VM on macOS and Linux; free Docker Desktop alternative.

Podman Desktop

podman-desktop/podman-desktop

Cross-platform GUI for managing containers, pods and local Kubernetes with Podman or Docker engines.

Rancher Desktop

rancher-sandbox/rancher-desktop

Open-source desktop app bundling containerd or Moby with k3s for local containers and Kubernetes.

Apple Container

apple/container

New

Apple's Swift tool that runs Linux containers as lightweight VMs natively on Apple silicon Macs.

CRI-O

cri-o/cri-o

Lightweight OCI runtime built specifically for the Kubernetes CRI; the default runtime in OpenShift.