Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Buildah VS Google Open Source

Compare Buildah VS Google Open Source and see what are their differences

Buildah logo Buildah

Buildah is a web-based OCI container tool that allows you to manage the wide range of images in your OCI container and helps you to build the image container from the scratch.

Google Open Source logo Google Open Source

All of Googles open source projects under a single umbrella
  • Buildah Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-05-27
  • Google Open Source Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-22

Buildah features and specs

  • Lightweight
    Buildah is a tool focused solely on building OCI and Docker-compatible containers, which makes it less resource-intensive compared to other container building solutions that include additional components like container runtimes.
  • Daemon-less
    Unlike Docker, Buildah does not require a running daemon, meaning it can be used in environments where a daemon is not desired or feasible, enhancing security and reducing footprint.
  • Flexibility
    Buildah provides flexibility by allowing precise control over container image creation, enabling advanced scenarios like building images from scratch, adding content at various stages, and using alternative base images.
  • Security
    Running without a daemon improves security by minimizing attack surfaces and permissions needed for building images, allowing for container creation and management by unprivileged users.
  • Integration with Podman
    Buildah integrates well with Podman, allowing users to manage containers and images without requiring additional integrations, as both are part of the same toolset for comprehensive container management.

Possible disadvantages of Buildah

  • Steep Learning Curve
    Users already familiar with Docker might find Buildah’s command-line interface and functionality to be different, necessitating a learning curve to effectively utilize its capabilities.
  • Less Mature Ecosystem
    Compared to Docker, Buildah has a smaller community and fewer integrations with third-party tools or cloud platforms, potentially limiting its use in complex or niche scenarios.
  • Lack of Windows Support
    As of now, Buildah primarily supports Linux platforms, which can be a limitation for developers using or targeting Windows environments.
  • Limited GUI Tools
    Buildah primarily operates through a command-line interface, with fewer graphical user interface options available, which might not appeal to users who prefer visual management tools.
  • Documentation Gaps
    Although improving, Buildah’s documentation can be less comprehensive and more challenging to navigate than Docker's, potentially making troubleshooting or advanced usage more difficult.

Google Open Source features and specs

  • Community Support
    Google Open Source projects often have large, active communities that contribute to the software's development and provide support.
  • Innovation
    Google frequently publishes cutting-edge projects, allowing developers to utilize the latest in technology and innovation.
  • Quality Documentation
    Google Open Source projects generally come with comprehensive documentation, making it easier for developers to integrate and utilize their tools.
  • Scalability
    Many of Google's open-source projects are designed to scale efficiently, benefiting from Google's extensive experience in handling large-scale systems.
  • Integration with Other Google Services
    Open-source projects from Google often integrate smoothly with other Google services and platforms, providing a cohesive ecosystem.

Possible disadvantages of Google Open Source

  • Dependency on Google
    Being tied to Google ecosystems might lead to dependencies, making it harder for developers to switch to other alternatives.
  • Data Privacy Concerns
    Some developers are wary of data privacy issues when using tools developed by Google, given the company's history with data collection.
  • Complexity
    Google’s projects can sometimes be complex, requiring a steep learning curve for developers who are not familiar with their systems and methodologies.
  • Licensing Issues
    Open-source licensing can sometimes pose challenges, especially for companies trying to ensure compliance with multiple licensing requirements.
  • Longevity and Support
    Not all Google open-source projects have long-term support, and there is a risk that some projects may be abandoned or shelved.

Buildah videos

How to Build a Container Image Using Buildah

Google Open Source videos

No Google Open Source videos yet. You could help us improve this page by suggesting one.

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Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Buildah and Google Open Source)
Cloud Computing
100 100%
0% 0
Developer Tools
29 29%
71% 71
OS & Utilities
100 100%
0% 0
Productivity
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Google Open Source should be more popular than Buildah. It has been mentiond 25 times since March 2021. 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.

Buildah mentions (13)

  • Dockerfmt: A Dockerfile Formatter
    I suspect that the GP was really asking "why not use a different tool", like buildah , buildpacks , nix ,. - Source: Hacker News / about 1 month ago
  • Top 8 Docker Alternatives to Consider in 2025
    Buildah specializes in building OCI-compliant container images, offering a more granular and secure approach to image creation compared to traditional Dockerfile builds. - Source: dev.to / 5 months ago
  • How to Create a CI/CD Pipeline with Docker
    Lockdown your Dockerized build environments --- Because privileged mode is insecure, you should restrict your CI/CD environments to known users and projects. If this isn't feasible, then instead of using Docker, you could try using a standalone image builder like Buildah to eliminate the risk. Alternatively, configuring rootless Docker-in-Docker can mitigate some --- but not all --- of the security concerns... - Source: dev.to / 12 months ago
  • Ko: Easy Go Containers
    In my experience, not using docker to build docker images is a good idea. E.g. buildah[0] with chroot isolation can build images in a GitLab pipeline, where docker would fail. It can still use the same Dockerfile though. If you want to get rid of your Dockerfiles anyway, nix can also build docker images[1] with all the added benefits of nix (reproducibility, efficient building and caching, automatic layering,... - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
  • Understanding Docker Architecture: A Beginner's Guide to How Docker Works
    Buildah: This lightweight, open-source command-line tool for building and managing container images. It is an efficient alternative to Docker. With Buildah, you can build images in various ways, including using a Dockerfile, a podmanfile or by running commands in a container. Buildah is a flexible, secure and powerful tool for building container images. - Source: dev.to / almost 2 years ago
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Google Open Source mentions (25)

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What are some alternatives?

When comparing Buildah and Google Open Source, you can also consider the following products

Podman - Simple debugging tool for pods and images

GitHub Sponsors - Get paid to build what you love on GitHub

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

Open Collective - Recurring funding for groups.

Crane - Crane is a docker image builder to approach light-weight ML users who want to expand a container image with custom apt/conda/pip packages without writing any Dockerfile.

LaunchKit - Open Source - A popular suite of developer tools, now 100% open source.