Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Buildah VS speedtest-cli

Compare Buildah VS speedtest-cli 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.

speedtest-cli logo speedtest-cli

Test your download speed using SpeedTest on the command-line
  • Buildah Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-05-27
  • speedtest-cli Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-08-01

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 Buildahโ€™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, Buildahโ€™s documentation can be less comprehensive and more challenging to navigate than Docker's, potentially making troubleshooting or advanced usage more difficult.

speedtest-cli features and specs

  • Open Source
    Speedtest-cli is open-source, meaning the source code is freely available for anyone to inspect, modify, and enhance.
  • Command Line Interface
    Allows users to run internet speed tests from the command line, which can be useful for automation, scripting, and use on headless servers.
  • Platform Independent
    Runs on multiple systems including Windows, macOS, and Linux, making it versatile for use across different environments.
  • Integration Capabilities
    Can be easily integrated with other applications and monitoring systems for automated performance tracking and reporting.
  • No Ads
    Unlike web-based speed test services, speedtest-cli does not display any advertisements, offering a cleaner user experience.

Possible disadvantages of speedtest-cli

  • Requires Terminal Knowledge
    Users need to be familiar with the command line interface, which might be a barrier for those who are accustomed to graphical user interfaces.
  • No Graphical Output
    Lacks a visual representation of the speed test results, which can be a disadvantage for users who prefer graphical data.
  • Limited Server Selection
    Automated server selection might not always choose the best server for testing, potentially affecting the accuracy of results.
  • Dependencies
    Speedtest-cli relies on Python and the 'pip' package manager, which may require additional setup steps for some users.
  • Feature Limitations
    Not all features of the web-based Speedtest service (like detailed historical data) are available in the CLI version.

Analysis of speedtest-cli

Overall verdict

  • Speedtest-cli is a reliable and effective tool for quickly assessing internet speed from the command line. It is well-regarded in the tech community for personal use, troubleshooting, and integration into network monitoring solutions.

Why this product is good

  • Speedtest-cli is a popular command-line tool that allows users to measure Internet bandwidth performance by using the Speedtest.net infrastructure. It is favored for its simplicity, ease of use, and ability to function on systems without a graphical user interface. It supports automated testing through scripts, making it suitable for batch processing and integration into monitoring systems.

Recommended for

  • System administrators who need a tool to monitor bandwidth performance across different machines.
  • Developers who require automation of speed tests in scripts.
  • Users who prefer command-line interfaces instead of graphical user interfaces.
  • Individuals seeking a lightweight and straightforward way to test internet speed without additional software installations.

Buildah videos

How to Build a Container Image Using Buildah

speedtest-cli videos

Testing Internet Bandwidth From The Terminal Using Speedtest-cli

More videos:

  • Review - Test internet bandwidth using speedtest-cli

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Buildah and speedtest-cli)
Cloud Computing
100 100%
0% 0
Developer Tools
33 33%
67% 67
OS & Utilities
100 100%
0% 0
Speed Test
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

Share your experience with using Buildah and speedtest-cli. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
Log in or Post with

Social recommendations and mentions

Buildah might be a bit more popular than speedtest-cli. We know about 14 links to it since March 2021 and only 13 links to speedtest-cli. 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 (14)

  • Podman vs. Docker: Containerization Tools Comparison
    Modern Docker releases use BuildKit, an efficient builder developed by Docker, whereas Podman uses Red Hat's Buildah. However, both solutions output OCI-compliant images, so there's no practical difference between the two for standard build workflows. - Source: dev.to / 12 months ago
  • 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 / over 1 year 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 / over 1 year 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 / about 2 years 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 2 years ago
View more

speedtest-cli mentions (13)

  • CLI Tools every Developer should know
    Or, you can follow the installation instructions on the official GitHub repository: SpeedTest-CLI Installation Guide. - Source: dev.to / about 2 years ago
  • Routing table confusion, or did Kirkland move to Kansas?
    That's a community cli client https://github.com/sivel/speedtest-cli rather than the official cli client https://www.speedtest.net/apps/cli. Source: about 3 years ago
  • running script via cron does not provide full output
    If you read the docs for Speedtest-CLI you will see that the program timeouts after 10 seconds. Try using this for default timeout of 1 minute and also redirect errors to the same file. Speedtest-cli --timeout 60 >> /bin/speedtestoutput.txt 2>&1. Source: over 3 years ago
  • Press 'Enter' to Run a SpeedTest (Update v2.5.4) - Self-Hosted SpeedTest - Docker
    Already exists https://github.com/sivel/speedtest-cli/, mature, stable, packaged in major distributions. Source: over 3 years ago
  • Can I accept license agreements for my end-users?
    I have an open-source software, which can show some stats about your PC/Server. One of those stats is internet speed. I have been using speedtest-cli for now, since it is open-source and runs without having to accept any license agreements. Source: about 4 years ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Buildah and speedtest-cli, you can also consider the following products

Podman - Simple debugging tool for pods and images

Fast.com - Quickly test your internet speed with this fast-loading speed test powered by Netflix.

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

LibreSpeed - Self-hosted Speedtest for HTML5. Easy setup, examples, configurable, mobile friendly.

CRI-O - Lightweight Container Runtime for Kubernetes

SpeedOf.Me - SpeedOf.Me is an HTML5 Internet speed test. No Flash or Java needed!