Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Apache Karaf VS CRI-O

Compare Apache Karaf VS CRI-O and see what are their differences

Apache Karaf logo Apache Karaf

Apache Karaf is a lightweight, modern and polymorphic container powered by OSGi.

CRI-O logo CRI-O

Lightweight Container Runtime for Kubernetes
  • Apache Karaf Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-07-29
  • CRI-O Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-21

Apache Karaf features and specs

  • Modular architecture
    Apache Karaf features a highly modular architecture that allows users to deploy, control, and monitor applications in a flexible and efficient manner. This makes it easy to manage dependencies and extend functionalities as needed.
  • OSGi support
    Karaf fully supports OSGi (Open Services Gateway initiative), which is a framework for developing and deploying modular software programs and libraries. This enables dynamic updates and replacement of modules without requiring a system restart.
  • Extensible and flexible
    Karaf's extensible architecture allows developers to integrate various technologies and custom modules, fostering a flexible environment that can suit a wide range of application types and requirements.
  • Enterprise features
    It provides a range of enterprise-ready features such as hot deployment, dynamic configuration, clustering, and high availability, which can help in building robust and scalable applications.
  • Comprehensive tooling
    Karaf comes with comprehensive tooling support including a powerful CLI, web console, and various tools for monitoring and managing the runtime environment. These tools simplify everyday management tasks.

Possible disadvantages of Apache Karaf

  • Steeper learning curve
    Due to its modular and extensible nature, Apache Karaf can have a steeper learning curve for new users, especially those unfamiliar with OSGi concepts and enterprise middleware.
  • Resource intensity
    Running and managing an Apache Karaf instance can be resource-intensive, especially when dealing with large-scale or highly modular applications. Adequate memory and processing power are required to maintain optimal performance.
  • Complex deployment
    While Karaf can handle complex deployment scenarios, setting it up and configuring it properly can be more involved compared to other simpler solutions. This complexity can increase the initial setup time and effort.
  • Limited community support
    Despite being an Apache project, the community around Apache Karaf might not be as large or active as other popular frameworks, potentially making it harder to find ample resources or immediate support.
  • Dependency management challenges
    Managing dependencies in Karaf, especially when dealing with multiple third-party libraries and their versions, can become cumbersome and lead to conflicts if not handled carefully.

CRI-O features and specs

  • Lightweight
    CRI-O is designed to be a minimal container runtime, which means it has a smaller footprint compared to other runtimes like Docker. This can result in lower memory and CPU usage, contributing to better performance and efficiency.
  • Kubernetes Integration
    CRI-O is built specifically to integrate seamlessly with Kubernetes, implementing the Kubernetes Container Runtime Interface (CRI). This ensures better compatibility and more tailored features for Kubernetes environments.
  • Security
    CRI-O is designed with security in mind and minimizes the attack surface by strictly following the principle of least privilege. It also supports compatibility with various security frameworks, such as SELinux and AppArmor.
  • Vendor Neutral
    CRI-O is an open-source project under the Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF), meaning it is vendor-neutral and has a diverse community contributing to its development. This decentralization helps in avoiding vendor lock-in.
  • Pluggable CNI
    CRI-O supports Container Network Interface (CNI) plugins out of the box, providing flexibility in choosing different network providers based on specific use-case requirements.

Possible disadvantages of CRI-O

  • Limited Features
    Because CRI-O is designed to be lightweight and minimalist, it lacks some of the extensive features offered by more comprehensive container solutions like Docker. Features like image building may require additional tools.
  • Community and Ecosystem
    While CRI-O is gaining popularity, it does not yet have as robust a community or ecosystem as Docker, potentially resulting in fewer available third-party tools and integrations.
  • Complexity for Beginners
    CRI-O may not be the most beginner-friendly environment due to its specific focus on Kubernetes integration and lack of standalone features like Docker Compose. Newcomers might find the learning curve steeper.
  • Debugging Tools
    The ecosystem around CRI-O is still maturing, and dedicated debugging tools are less comprehensive compared to other container runtimes like Docker, which could pose challenges in troubleshooting.
  • Release Cycle
    CRI-O's release cycle is tightly aligned with Kubernetes releases, which can be a double-edged sword. While it ensures compatibility, it also means that businesses must keep their CRI-O and Kubernetes versions in sync.

Analysis of CRI-O

Overall verdict

  • CRI-O is considered a good choice for users who are running Kubernetes and prefer a streamlined, Kubernetes-native container runtime. Its compatibility with Kubernetes standards and its focus on using lightweight components make it a reliable option for a Kubernetes environment.

Why this product is good

  • CRI-O is an open-source container runtime specifically focused on providing a lightweight, minimal and stable runtime environment for Kubernetes. It is designed to meet the Container Runtime Interface (CRI) which enables Kubernetes to use different container runtimes. CRI-O simplifies the stack by using existing Open Container Initiative (OCI) projects which reduces overhead and complexity. It benefits from Kubernetes integration, offering security and performance optimizations tailored for Kubernetes workloads.

Recommended for

  • Organizations using Kubernetes as their primary container orchestration system.
  • Teams looking for a minimal and stable runtime compatible with the Kubernetes CRI.
  • Developers who need a runtime that integrates seamlessly with Kubernetes tools and workflows.
  • Projects that prioritize security and compliance with OCI standards.

Apache Karaf videos

EIK - How to use Apache Karaf inside of Eclipse

More videos:

  • Review - OpenDaylight's Apache Karaf Report- Jamie Goodyear

CRI-O videos

Running Containers on Podman/CRI-o - Introduction working with Podman containers

More videos:

  • Tutorial - CRI-O: Development Process & How to Contribute - Urvashi Mohnani & Peter Hunt, Red Hat
  • Review - CRI-O: O Container Runtime feito para o Kubernetes

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Apache Karaf and CRI-O)
Developer Tools
58 58%
42% 42
Cloud Computing
51 51%
49% 49
Cloud Hosting
100 100%
0% 0
Cloud Storage
51 51%
49% 49

User comments

Share your experience with using Apache Karaf and CRI-O. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
Log in or Post with

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, CRI-O seems to be a lot more popular than Apache Karaf. While we know about 21 links to CRI-O, we've tracked only 1 mention of Apache Karaf. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Apache Karaf mentions (1)

  • Need advice: Java Software Architecture for SaaS startup doing CRUD and REST APIs?
    Apache Karaf with OSGi works pretty nice using annotation based dependency injection with the declarative services, removing the need to mess with those hopefully archaic XML blueprints. Too bad it's not as trendy as spring and the developers so many of the tutorials can be a bit dated and hard to find. Karaf also supports many other frameworks and programming models as well and there's even Red Hat supported... Source: over 4 years ago

CRI-O mentions (21)

  • We clone a running VM in 2 seconds
    Yes - using Cri-o[0] or docker checkpoint/restore api (which uses cri-o) [0] - https://cri-o.io/. - Source: Hacker News / 6 months ago
  • Top 8 Docker Alternatives to Consider in 2025
    CRI-O provides a lightweight container runtime specifically designed for Kubernetes, implementing the Container Runtime Interface (CRI) with optimized performance. - Source: dev.to / 9 months ago
  • 7 Best Practices for Container Security
    Container engine security focuses on the underlying runtime system that manages and executes containers, such as Docker, containerd, or CRI-O. These container engines are responsible for interfacing with the operating system kernel to provide the isolated environments that containers run within. - Source: dev.to / about 1 year ago
  • 5 Alternatives to Docker Desktop
    Minikube supports various container runtimes, including Docker, containerd, and CRI-O, allowing flexibility in the development environment. - Source: dev.to / about 1 year ago
  • The Road To Kubernetes: How Older Technologies Add Up
    Kubernetes on the backend used to utilize docker for much of its container runtime solutions. One of the modular features of Kubernetes is the ability to utilize a Container Runtime Interface or CRI. The problem was that Docker didn't really meet the spec properly and they had to maintain a shim to translate properly. Instead users could utilize the popular containerd or cri-o runtimes. These follow the Open... - Source: dev.to / over 1 year ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Apache Karaf and CRI-O, you can also consider the following products

Docker - Docker is an open platform that enables developers and system administrators to create distributed applications.

containerd - An industry-standard container runtime with an emphasis on simplicity, robustness and portability

Google App Engine - A powerful platform to build web and mobile apps that scale automatically.

Podman - Simple debugging tool for pods and images

Amazon S3 - Amazon S3 is an object storage where users can store data from their business on a safe, cloud-based platform. Amazon S3 operates in 54 availability zones within 18 graphic regions and 1 local region.

rkt - App Container runtime