Top 10 Docker Alternatives

Docker remains relevant to a large number of containers, applications, and developers due to its cutting-edge software, its compatibility with other containers, huge community, and its ease of use. But, Docker Inc has undergone modifications recently, among them modifications regarding Docker Desktop licensing. There are likely to be further changes to come If you’re worried about the future of Docker and the growth and expansion of Kubernetes take a look at the following Docker alternatives.

Top 10 Docker Alternatives

Docker provides a number of alternatives that can be used standalone with a variety of features, including virtualization and cross-platform compatibility. There are additional Open Container Initiative (OCI) tools that can work with Docker and can replace some Docker components, and integrate alongside different Docker alternatives to robust Docker competitors.

1. Buildah

If you’re looking to create OCI containers image without having to install an independent container runtime or daemon Buildah could be the ideal option. Making OCI images is the main goal.

The commands it uses replicate the commands that are contained in the Dockerfile. This means that you can make images without or with Dockerfiles without root access. Images will work using each Docker or Kubernetes.

Buildah is a project to provide an interface that is lower-level for coreutils creating images. Since it does not require Dockerfiles as well, you are able to add different scripting languages to the build process.

It also utilizes a light fork-exec design instead of operating as daemon. It also works with other tools such as Podman, Skopeo, and Dive.

Also read: What Is Container Security: A Complete Guide

2. LXD

Linux Daemon (LXD) manages virtual machines and system containers on Linux systems. It is one of the best Docker Alternatives. It’s image-based, quick secure, and adaptable.

It is possible to set it in an environment for cluster management to handle more complicated tasks using containers, VMs and both, within a group of machines.

You could explain LXD as a REST API that is connected to Linux Containers (LXC) library and libxlc.

It does have significant benefits over LXC. It has direct access to hardware that reduces operational costs while increasing effectiveness and density. Additionally, it offers advanced features for snapshots, such as automated expiry, as well as scheduling.

3. Vagrant

With HashiCorp’s Vagrant, it is possible to replicate multiple controlled virtual environments across different Operating Systems and Virtual Machines. It assists in setting up a virtual world that can be replicated several times on various systems, VMs, and OSs.

This improves interoperability. You can also build matching virtual environments for staging development, developing, and deploying apps.

Vagrant allows you to make and distribute VM images across different platforms, which can help you set up virtual environments which share compilers and libraries.

In contrast, Docker frequently reverts to the previous image upon restarting. In addition, unlike Docker which has an isolation of the user level Vagrant allows you to use different tools and features can be used together.

4. Containerd

Containerd is a CNCF-graduated Container runtime project which has been Docker’s preferred runtime for containers for a long time. Docker currently utilizes runC as its primary running system. Containerd manages the entire lifecycle management for the host system.

It creates, runs, and destroys containers when required. The system also manages image transfer and storage, as well as container supervision as well as low-level storage, and network connections.

It can also be used for multi-tenant operation when it is combined with storage from CAS (for globally oriented images).

Additionally, Containerd works with many applications and tools, such as runC, Kubernetes Engine, Amazon Kubernetes Service (AKS) along with Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS). Containers can also be used as a daemon on Windows.

5. ZeroVM

ZeroVM is an easy-to-use, portable, and secure tool that can create an environment that is isolated to run one or two processes at a time. This method is based on the Chromium Native Client (NaCl) project.

Contrary to this the other virtualization and container technologies can provide a fully virtualized OS and a running environment to run various processes.

However, ZeroVM embeds an application inside an isolated environment in order to permit virtualization on the application level, and does not require any operating system, or kernel.

This configuration not only improves the speed of deployment (startup in less than six milliseconds) but also increases security for applications or processes that run untrusted code in various virtual environments.

6. Podman

Podman is a container engine built on Linux that makes use of the libpod library for container lifecycle management tools.

The program excels in executing the tasks and commands that modify and update OCI images, like pulling and tagging. It also assists in creating and running the containers you build out of these images.

While it can run containers on Linux it is possible to utilize Podman to run containers in Windows as well as Mac systems using a Podman-managed virtual machine.

It is important to note that Buildah and Podman are two different definitions of containers. While Podman allows you to build longer-lived containers, the Buildah containers let the user add content to an image of a container.

Imagine this the command buildah run emulates the RUN command within the Dockerfile, whereas the Podman run command is similar to that of the docker run command. This, along with their underlying storage system differences keep the user from observing Buildah containers inside Podman and vice reverse.

7. BuildKit

BuildKit is an image creation engine that came from Moby Project. Moby Project is available as part of Docker Build (Docker version 18.09 and higher). It can also be used as a standalone application under Moby.

Similar to Docker, BuildKit uses a daemon to run. However, unlike Docker builds every image layer at an individual period of time BuildKit makes use of parallel processing in order to make more rapid builds.

Its improved caching ensures that you don’t need to rebuild every layer. BuildKit can also be used to skip unneeded phases, builds rootless, and supports incremental builds.

Additionally, it provides an improved plugging structure to increase flexibility. This is why certain developers can utilize BuildKit to transform functions into containers or to create complete CI pipelines.

Also read: Top 5 SolarWinds Alternatives and Competitors

8. RunC

RunC is a GitHub-hosted Command-Line application built using Go (v1.17 as well as later) to run and create containers that run with Linux systems.

It is based on OCI specifications. RunC was an application that was low-level, which means it was not recommended to use it as an end-user. It is now an independent version of RunC available that allows you to use it in conjunction with Docker or as a stand-alone.

Independently of Docker, It functions as a light portable, universal, as well as portable runtime for containers similar to Containers but with no Windows support.

9. Rkt

Previously known as CoreOS Rocket, RKT is an application container engine specifically designed for cloud-native production environments. Thanks to its pod-native platform as well as an executor that plugs into a different environment, rkt seamlessly integrates with other platforms which makes it a great Docker alternative.

Rkt allows you to apply various options (such as in isolation parameter) at the pod level and at the per-application level.

This means that there is no central daemon. Pods are run in Unix instances, with each running in its own independent, self-contained environment. Furthermore, although rkt is using an appc format, it also uses the App Container (appc) standard It also manages other containers, like Docker images.

However, rkt isn’t currently under development on GitHub. You can, however, make use of, fork, and work on its code base under another name. It’s best to mirror all the important elements you require because you don’t know when they’ll ever be accessible.

10. Microsoft Azure Container Registry

Through Microsoft Azure Container Registry you have access to an exclusive Docker registry that lets you manage and store images for containers with the help of Docker Command-Line tools.

Alongside offering powerful security features, it also offers Twist Lock compatibility as well as runtime protection and checking for vulnerabilities in containers.

Microsoft Azure is also the second-most popular cloud computing platform after Amazon Web Services (AWS) therefore it is logical to host container-based projects here.

You can also run, deploy applications, and scale them using container orchestrators such as Docker Swarm and Kubernetes.

Similar to Docker Hub, Azure Container Registry functions as a catalog of container images. It lets users directly manage the contents of containers. It also supports an integrated authentication system and allows geo-replication. This includes tag locking and the setting up of an encrypted virtual network.

Last Line

It is now possible to select from types of Docker alternatives based on your specific requirements for workload. But, no matter which application you decide to include in your arsenal Docker should not bring up unexpected costs -this occurs all too often.