The 10 best Docker alternatives to consider

In the realm of modern system engineering and programming, containers serve as a versatile solution for packaging and distributing software, with Docker being a prominent platform that facilitates the entire containerization process. However, several alternatives to Docker exist, each adhering to the Open Containers Initiative (OCI) specification, offering users flexibility and potentially better-suited solutions for specific use cases. Notable alternatives include Podman, a daemonless tool developed by RedHat that allows for rootless containers and the creation of pods; Buildah, which provides detailed control over the image-building process without the need for a central daemon; and BuildKit, a more efficient image-building engine that enhances Docker's capabilities. Other alternatives, such as Kaniko and Skopeo, cater to specific needs like building secure images within Kubernetes clusters or inspecting Docker images without downloading them. Tools like runc and crun focus on container runtimes, while LXD offers a different approach by managing system containers akin to virtual machines. The existence of these alternatives highlights the flexibility within the container ecosystem, allowing developers to choose tools that best fit their requirements while maintaining OCI compliance.