Understanding how Colima works - The Lightweight Docker Desktop Alternative
Ankit Mittal
Devops@Govtech Singapore | Terraform | AWS | Kubernetes| EKS | Docker | Python | Gitlab| Jenkins | Digital Transformation | Enterprise Solution Architect | Migrations | Solution Design & Delivery | Life-Long Learner
Ever wondered how container development works on macOS without Docker Desktop? Let me take you behind the scenes of Colima, a fascinating piece of technology that's changing the game for macOS developers.
In my latest blog post, I break down Colima's architecture layer by layer - from its clever use of Lima VMs to its efficient handling of containerd. You'll discover how it manages everything from network bridges to filesystem integration, all while keeping resource usage minimal.
What makes Colima special? It's not just about running containers - it's about doing so efficiently. Through Lima and QEMU, it creates a purpose-built environment that gives you all the power of Docker with a fraction of the resource footprint.
The best part? It's completely free and open source!
Check out my detailed technical breakdown here: https://www.unixcloudfusion.in/2025/01/understanding-how-colima-works.html
#DevOps #Docker #MacOS #SoftwareEngineering #ContainerTechnology #Development #TechBlog
P.S. Did you know Colima actually stands for "Containers on Lima"? It's these kinds of thoughtful design choices that make it such an elegant solution!
Would love to hear your experiences with Colima. Have you made the switch from Docker Desktop? What's been your experience?