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rkt VS Podman

Compare rkt VS Podman and see what are their differences

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rkt logo rkt

App Container runtime

Podman logo Podman

Simple debugging tool for pods and images
  • rkt Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-05-08
  • Podman Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-07-30

rkt features and specs

  • Compatibility
    rkt supports the App Container (appc) spec and can also run Docker container images, providing flexibility and compatibility with various container formats.
  • Security
    rkt is designed with security in mind, offering features like process isolation through Linux namespaces, user namespaces, and SELinux/AppArmor integration.
  • Isolation
    rkt runs applications in their own stage1 environments, ensuring strong isolation between containers and better resource management.
  • Modularity
    rkt is built with a modular architecture, allowing users to swap out the stage1 implementation to better fit their needs.
  • Lightweight
    rkt avoids running a central daemon, thus using fewer system resources and simplifying debugging and monitoring.

Possible disadvantages of rkt

  • Maturity
    rkt is not as mature as Docker, meaning it may lack some features and integrations that have been developed for Docker.
  • Community and Ecosystem
    rkt has a smaller community and ecosystem compared to Docker, which may limit the availability of third-party tools and support.
  • Adoption
    rkt has lower adoption rates, leading to fewer tutorials, guides, and community-driven content, which can make the learning curve steeper.
  • Development Activity
    rkt's development and maintenance activity is not as high as Docker's, which could impact long-term viability and feature development.
  • Enterprise Support
    Enterprise-grade support and services for rkt may not be as widely available or comprehensive as those for Docker.

Podman features and specs

  • Daemonless Architecture
    Podman does not require a daemon to run containers, which simplifies its architecture and minimizes the potential attack surface.
  • Rootless Containers
    Podman allows running containers as a non-root user, enhancing security by reducing the risk associated with running processes as the root user.
  • Kubernetes Support
    Podman has built-in support for Kubernetes, enabling easier transition and orchestration of containers at scale.
  • Compatibility with Docker CLI
    Podman provides a Docker-compatible command line interface, making it easy for users to migrate from Docker with minimal changes to their workflows.
  • Enhanced Security
    With features like user namespaces and no central daemon, Podman offers improved security compared to traditional container runtimes.
  • Open Source
    Podman is an open-source project, which provides transparency and community-driven development.

Possible disadvantages of Podman

  • Limited Ecosystem
    The ecosystem around Podman is not as extensive as that of Docker, potentially limiting the availability of third-party tools and integrations.
  • Learning Curve
    Users familiar with Docker may face a learning curve when adapting to some of Podman’s unique features and CLI differences.
  • Performance Overhead
    Running rootless containers can introduce some performance overhead due to the additional layers of user namespace translation.
  • Less Mature
    Podman is relatively newer compared to Docker, which means it might not be as battle-tested in enterprise environments.
  • Inconsistent Behavior
    Certain Podman features may behave differently than Docker, which might lead to unexpected issues during container management and automation.

Analysis of rkt

Overall verdict

  • Overall, RKT is a strong choice for organizations using Red Hat's cloud solutions, particularly those focusing on security, compliance, and efficient container management.

Why this product is good

  • RKT (Red Hat Quay and OpenShift Container Registry) is considered good due to its robust features in container management, such as secure image distribution, vulnerability scanning, and role-based access controls. It's part of the Red Hat ecosystem, offering seamless integration with other Red Hat products and services, making it a reliable choice for enterprises seeking secure and scalable container solutions.

Recommended for

  • Companies already using Red Hat platforms
  • Organizations requiring comprehensive security and compliance features
  • Development teams looking for integrated tools for container lifecycle management
  • Enterprises focusing on scalability and robust container infrastructure

Analysis of Podman

Overall verdict

  • Podman is a solid option for users seeking a secure, flexible, and rootless alternative to Docker. It performs efficiently and provides strong compatibility with existing container management workflows.

Why this product is good

  • Podman is considered a good tool due to its daemonless architecture, which enhances security and provides more flexibility in container management. Unlike Docker, Podman can run containers under rootless mode, allowing non-root users to manage containers and reducing the attack surface. Podman's compatibility with Docker command-line interface (CLI) and its ability to run in a Kubernetes-like environment using pods make it versatile for diverse container management tasks.

Recommended for

  • Developers and system administrators who require a rootless container management solution.
  • Teams focused on security and minimal permissions for container management.
  • Organizations looking to integrate container management closely with Kubernetes without relying on Docker.
  • Users who are comfortable with command-line interface tools and container technologies.

rkt videos

+ Add

RKT IPO Review | Is Rocket a Buy for 2020? | Matt Mulvihill

More videos:

  • Review - 2018 Niner RKT 9 RDO - First Look and Build Kit Overview
  • Review - Best Stock Picks Today | RKT Stock 9-2-20

Podman videos

+ Add

PODMAN vs DOCKER - should you switch now?

More videos:

  • Review - Actually, podman Might Be Better Than docker
  • Review - Container (Podman) Review - Kominfo PROA Training Lab 2

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to rkt and Podman)

rkt

Podman

Developer Tools
31 31%
Developer Tools
69% 69
Cloud Computing
33 33%
Cloud Computing
67% 67
Cloud Storage
100 100%
Cloud Storage
0% 0
Productivity
0 0%
Productivity
100% 100

User comments

Share your experience with using rkt and Podman. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare rkt and Podman

rkt Reviews

5 Container Alternatives to Docker
In 2018, 12 percent of production containers were rkt (pronounced “Rocket”). Rkt supports two types of images: Docker and appc. A selling point of rkt is its pod-based process that works out of the box with Kubernetes (also referred to as “rktnetes”). In Kubernetes, an rkt container runtime can easily be specified:
Source: containerjournal.com

Podman Reviews

Podman vs Docker: Comparing the Two Containerization Tools
Rootless processes. Because of its daemonless architecture, Podman can perform truly rootless operations. Users do not have to be granted root privileges to run Podman commands, and Podman does not have to rely on a root-privileged process.
Source: www.linode.com

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Podman seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 125 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.

rkt mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of rkt yet. Tracking of rkt recommendations started around Mar 2021.

Podman mentions (125)

View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing rkt and Podman, you can also consider the following products

GlusterFS - GlusterFS is a scale-out network-attached storage file system.

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

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

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

Apache Mesos - Apache Mesos abstracts resources away from machines, enabling fault-tolerant and elastic distributed systems to easily be built and run effectively.

Flox - Manage and share development environments with all the frameworks and libraries you need, then publish artifacts anywhere. Harness the power of Nix.

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