I've recently switched my team from Docker Desktop to Rancher Desktop, and while the transition has been smooth for my Windows colleagues, the experience has been rough for me on my Apple Silicon Mac (Tahoe 26.0.1). My Python containers usually build okay, but they sometimes fail unexpectedly. The real trouble is with my Java apps; they seldom build properly and when they do, running them becomes a hassle. Has anyone else had similar issues? I'm open to any fixes or alternative solutions you might recommend!
5 Answers
Podman is another option that works really well on Mac. If you're looking for alternatives, definitely consider giving it a try!
If you're not attached to a GUI, I'd recommend trying out Colima. I've found it to be reliable and straightforward to switch over to. It runs Linux in a VM just like Rancher, so I can't see why you're having those issues unless it’s resource-related. It's definitely worth a shot!
Thanks for the tip! I've had a lot of confusion with Rancher so I’m going to check out Colima.
Colima, Orbstack, and Docker Compose seem to be the trending alternatives. Looks like you have some solid options to explore. Good luck!
Looks like I’ll be checking Colima and Orbstack soon. Appreciate the suggestions!
I had a bad experience with Rancher Desktop too. I ended up just using Docker Compose, which simplified everything for me. Sometimes it's just about keeping things simple!
I've been using Orbstack on macOS and have found it to be rock solid. If you haven't tried it yet, I highly recommend giving it a go. It's been a great experience for me after making the switch from Docker Desktop.
Totally agree, Orbstack has been great for me too since moving over to macOS!
I just found Colima too and I’m really pleased with how easy it was to migrate. It just works without any headaches.