If you're not wedded to docker-compose, with podman you can instead use the podman kube support, which provides roughly docker-compose equivalent features using a subset of the Kubernetes pod deployment syntax.
Additionally, podman has nice systemd integration for such kube services, you just need to write a short systemd config snippet and then you can manage the kube service just like any other systemd service.
Altogether a very nice combination for deploying containerized services if you don't want to go the whole hog to something like Kubernetes.
depingus · 13m ago
> you just need to write a short systemd config snippet and then you can manage the kube service just like any other systemd service.
Just FYI, `podman generate systemd --files --name mypod` will create all the systemd service files for you.
This is sort of "fixed" by using a Quadlet ".kube" but IMO that's a pretty weak solution and removes the "here's your compose file, run it" aspect.
Recently (now that Deb13 is out with Podman 5) I have started transitioning to Podmans Quadlet files which have been quite smooth so far. As you say, its great to run things without all the overhead of kubernetes.
teekert · 35m ago
"...removes the "here's your compose file, run it"
Can you really use "ComposeService" in the systemd unit file? I can't find any reference to it
You're absolutely right to question that - I made an error. There is no ComposeService directive in systemd or Quadlet.
It would be a nice best of both worlds...
iTokio · 41m ago
Isn’t that limited to a single node?
How would you configure a cluster? I’m trying to explore lightweight alternatives to kubernetes, such as docker swarm, but I think that the options are limited if you must support clusters with equivalent of pods and services at least.
mstade · 53m ago
I replaced my Docker usage entirely with OrbStack[1] a few months ago, and have had zero issues with it so far. Great product that I happily pay a license for.
My usage is fairly basic though and I'm sure mileage varies, but for my basic web dev setup it's been perfect.
orbstack is just a vm provider for docker on mac, colima offers the same features without a ui and is a great open replacement but as neither supports podman both are not really relevant to the podman discussion.
lloydjones · 1h ago
I encountered this exact issue (no buildkit with Podman) months ago. I gave up and used Docker desktop, but I'm glad you didn't. Well done!
haolez · 1h ago
But Docker can run rootless these days, right? Can anyone chime in with how well does this work?
pxc · 55m ago
Actually setting up rootless Docker is pretty manual and kludgy. With Podman, rootless is pretty much effortless.
cyprien_g · 1h ago
I have never used Podman, but I hear about it very often. I currently use Colima (https://github.com/abiosoft/colima) and I'm very satisfied with it.
I have tried to find a good comparison between the two, but I find it hard to have a clear opinion on which one is best for me.
rockyj · 1h ago
Colima is related but separate, Colima runs a Linux VM seamlessly in MacOS so you can interact with Docker as if it was running on your host OS. Podman will also need a VM (coz there is no native Docker on MacOS).
dizhn · 1h ago
That sounded like podman needs docker. It's more of a mostly compatible separate product that does not need a daemon to run. Both probably lack things like cgroups (a Linux kernel really) etc on macos.
privatelypublic · 49m ago
Podman Desktop uses a VM on windows too.(WSL2)
cmiles74 · 1h ago
I use Podman, I wanted a Docker-like experience on MacOS or Windows. I use it to provide services during development (PostgreSQL, etc.) and working on image builds. It works pretty well. :-)
Additionally, podman has nice systemd integration for such kube services, you just need to write a short systemd config snippet and then you can manage the kube service just like any other systemd service.
Altogether a very nice combination for deploying containerized services if you don't want to go the whole hog to something like Kubernetes.
Just FYI, `podman generate systemd --files --name mypod` will create all the systemd service files for you.
https://docs.podman.io/en/latest/markdown/podman-generate-sy...
Last I tried using the .kube files I ran into issues with specifying container networks (https://github.com/containers/podman/issues/12965).
This is sort of "fixed" by using a Quadlet ".kube" but IMO that's a pretty weak solution and removes the "here's your compose file, run it" aspect.
Recently (now that Deb13 is out with Podman 5) I have started transitioning to Podmans Quadlet files which have been quite smooth so far. As you say, its great to run things without all the overhead of kubernetes.
Claude recently hallucinated this for me:
For a brief moment in time I was happy but then:Can you really use "ComposeService" in the systemd unit file? I can't find any reference to it
You're absolutely right to question that - I made an error. There is no ComposeService directive in systemd or Quadlet.
It would be a nice best of both worlds...
How would you configure a cluster? I’m trying to explore lightweight alternatives to kubernetes, such as docker swarm, but I think that the options are limited if you must support clusters with equivalent of pods and services at least.
My usage is fairly basic though and I'm sure mileage varies, but for my basic web dev setup it's been perfect.
[1]: https://orbstack.dev/
I have tried to find a good comparison between the two, but I find it hard to have a clear opinion on which one is best for me.