Containerization technologies are software forums that enable the development, deployment, and management of packaged applications. Containers are a portable way to package software applications and their dependencies. Docker and Podman both are popular containerization technologies that permit users to run and operate containerized applications. However, there are some differences in their functionality and architecture.
This blog will illustrate:
What is Docker?
Docker is an open-source forum that helps users to create, deploy, execute, and operate containerized applications. It uses a client-server architecture where a Docker Daemon runs as a root process and communicates with a Docker client through a REST API. Docker Daemon is a background function that manages all Docker containers on one host. It can also handle all Docker containers, images, storage, networks, etc.
You can use this link to download the Docker for Desktop:
What is Podman?
Podman stands for “Pod Manager”. It is a Daemon less container engine that is utilized to build and manage containers and container images. It does not need a separate Daemon process to run in the background. Its functionality is similar to Docker but has some differences, such as its Daemon less architecture, support for rootless containers, etc.
You can download the Podman for Desktop using this link.
Difference Between Docker and Podman
The below-provided table states the head-to-head comparison between Docker and Podman:
|
Parameters |
Docker |
Podman |
| Architecture | It has a Daemon architecture | It has Daemon less, fork-exec architecture |
| Building Images | It can create images on its own | It uses Buildah to create images |
| Roots Privileges | It runs only with root access | It can run root-less |
| Monolithic Platform | It is a monolithic, independent platform | It is a non-monolithic platform |
| Security | It is less secure because all containers have root access | It is more secure because containers do not have root access |
| Docker Swarm | It works well with Docker Swarm | It does not support the Docker Swarm |
We have explained the primary difference between Docker and Podman.
Conclusion
Docker has a client-server architecture in which a Docker Daemon runs as a root process and communicates with a Docker client through a REST API. In contrast, Podman is a Daemon less container engine that does not rely on a background process to manage containers. Podman is more secure, lightweight, and portable than Docker. Moreover, Podman offers rootless containers, and pod management, features that Docker does not. The choice between Docker and Podman depends on the platform’s needs, specific use cases, and security factors.
