← Back to Topics

Docker on macOS

The cluster discusses Docker's implementation on macOS, emphasizing that it runs inside a Linux VM rather than natively, leading to performance issues, high resource usage, and preferences for alternatives like Podman, Colima, or Rancher Desktop.

📉 Falling 0.3x DevOps & Infrastructure
4,481
Comments
14
Years Active
5
Top Authors
#8859
Topic ID

Activity Over Time

2013
32
2014
100
2015
101
2016
302
2017
165
2018
142
2019
181
2020
660
2021
713
2022
808
2023
551
2024
306
2025
390
2026
30

Top Contributors

smoldesu (25) moondev (21) fulafel (20) pxc (18) nickjj (16)

Keywords

RAM AFAIK WSL2 WSL CPU DO ARM M1 VirtualBox sync.io docker mac vm macos linux windows desktop containers runs run

Sample Comments

rickreynoldssf • Dec 28, 2022 • View on HN

Docker isn't really Docker on MacOS. It's a glorified VM manager.

watermelon0 • Jan 2, 2022 • View on HN

Docker on Mac works fine on M1, but it's running on a Linux VM, and cannot access macOS APIs.

worg • Apr 11, 2021 • View on HN

My bet would be better docker integration on mac (removing the need for a VM, maybe providing a Containerd.framework?)

ArchOversight • Mar 4, 2021 • View on HN

Have you tried the Docker for M1 preview? It's been great for me!

cortesoft • Apr 7, 2020 • View on HN

Part of it might be that many developers target linux but code on a mac... and on a mac, docker containers DO run in a VM.

javajosh • Jul 14, 2021 • View on HN

AFAIK it is not possible to run Docker outside of a Linux VM on the mac.

nunez • Oct 13, 2023 • View on HN

Not a fan of docker for Mac for sure. Podman or Rancher Desktop or Colima are the way to go.

heavyset_go • Jul 14, 2021 • View on HN

Linux still needs to run in VMs to use Docker on a Mac.

asimovDev • Oct 13, 2025 • View on HN

on macOS Docker is just a QEMU VM underneath, to my limited understanding, so not a big difference I think

ori_b • Dec 25, 2020 • View on HN

Docker on Mac or Windows is a Linux VM. It's not magically portable.