Docker Desktop
Linux containers on macOS, plus the CLI that dev containers and CI images are built with.
What it does
Docker Desktop runs a lightweight Linux VM and exposes the Docker Engine, docker CLI, Compose and a Kubernetes cluster on top of it. On Apple Silicon it uses Apple’s Virtualization framework, with Rosetta available for linux/amd64 images.
Why it matters beyond containers
Docker is also what makes dev containers work: a .devcontainer/ directory describes a full toolchain, and the editor builds and attaches to it. That gives a project a reproducible environment, keeps its dependencies off the host, and lets a contributor match what CI runs instead of approximating it.
Notes
- Disk usage grows quietly.
docker system prune -aand the Resources → Advanced disk slider are the two levers worth knowing. - The cask token is
docker-desktop; the olderdockertoken now refers to the CLI-only formula.
Alternative to
| Alternative | Type | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| OrbStack | Freemium | Dramatically faster and lighter on macOS, drop-in compatible; the usual reason people switch |
| Colima | Open source | CLI-only, Lima-based, no licence question |
| Podman Desktop | Open source | Daemonless and rootless, with a Docker-compatible CLI |
| Rancher Desktop | Open source | Kubernetes-first, open source |
Install
brew install --cask docker-desktop