# Docker

Run GitHub Actions locally for fast feedback

Act is an open-source tool that runs GitHub Actions workflows locally using Docker containers that match GitHub's execution environment. It provides instant feedback on workflow changes without pushing to a repository, supports matrix builds, secret management, and artifact handling. Act can also replace Makefiles by using workflow files as task definitions, making it useful for both CI/CD development and local task automation across development teams.

Open-source observability platform for metrics, logs, and traces visualization.

Grafana is the leading open-source platform for monitoring and observability visualization. It connects to virtually any data source — Prometheus, Elasticsearch, InfluxDB, PostgreSQL, CloudWatch, Datadog, and 150+ others — to create beautiful, interactive dashboards. Used by millions of users at companies like Bloomberg, JPMorgan, eBay, and PayPal. Grafana Cloud offers a fully managed experience with generous free tier. The CNCF ecosystem standard for metrics visualization.

Identity-aware VPN and reverse proxy for zero-trust remote access

Identity-based remote access platform built on WireGuard that combines reverse proxy and VPN capabilities. Pangolin supports clientless browser access for web apps and client-based private-resource access across macOS, iOS, Windows, Linux, and Android, with zero-trust rules, peer-to-peer tunnels, automatic SSL, SSO/OIDC options, and cloud or self-hosted deployment.

Run GitHub Actions on faster bare-metal runners with lower Ubuntu per-minute pricing

Blacksmith is a drop-in replacement for GitHub-hosted runners that executes Actions on bare-metal gaming CPUs and source-shaped cache infrastructure. Migration requires a one-line YAML change. Features include colocated warm caches, persistent Docker layer caching on NVMe, CI observability with log search, and Firecracker microVM isolation. SOC 2 Type 2 certified, with Ubuntu x64 pricing at $0.004/min and 3,000 free minutes/month.

Cloud-scale monitoring, security, and analytics platform for modern infrastructure.

Datadog is a cloud observability and security platform that unifies metrics, traces, logs, RUM, synthetics, APM, and security signals. Current pricing pages list 1,000+ integrations for Infrastructure Monitoring, with Pro from $15/host/month and Enterprise from $23/host/month when billed annually.

Open-source identity and access management

Keycloak is an open-source IAM solution with 25K+ GitHub stars by Red Hat. Provides SSO, social login, LDAP/Active Directory federation, standard protocol support (OIDC, OAuth 2.0, SAML), fine-grained authorization, user federation, and admin console. Features identity brokering, multi-tenancy via realms, and client adapters for Java, JavaScript, and Node.js. Self-hosted with no per-user licensing, making it ideal for organizations needing full control over identity infrastructure.

Zig-built headless browser engineered for AI agent workloads

Open-source headless browser written in Zig for AI agents, crawling, and automation. Lightpanda omits graphical rendering, keeps DOM and JavaScript execution, exposes CDP for Puppeteer/Playwright/chromedp, and adds Agent, PandaScript, and MCP workflows. Current public benchmarks claim about 9x faster execution and 16x less memory than Chrome.

Self-hosted AI platform with ChatGPT-like interface for local and cloud LLMs.

Extensible, self-hosted AI platform with 290M+ Docker pulls and 124K+ GitHub stars. Supports Ollama, OpenAI-compatible APIs, and any Chat Completions backend. Features built-in RAG, multi-user RBAC, voice/video calls, Python function workspace, model builder, and web browsing. Runs entirely offline with enterprise features including SSO and audit logging.

2x faster LLM fine-tuning with 70% less VRAM on a single GPU

Unsloth is an open-source framework for fine-tuning large language models up to 2x faster while using 70% less VRAM. Built with custom Triton kernels, it supports 500+ model architectures including Llama 4, Qwen 3, and DeepSeek on consumer NVIDIA GPUs. Unsloth Studio adds a no-code web UI for dataset creation, training observability, model comparison, and GGUF export for Ollama and vLLM deployment.

Open-source Docker gateway for containerized MCP server orchestration

Docker MCP Gateway is Docker's open-source orchestration layer for Model Context Protocol servers. It gives MCP clients one gateway, launches catalog servers in isolated containers on demand, injects credentials, applies runtime restrictions, and routes tool requests. Catalogs and profiles let teams reuse approved server collections across clients, while Docker Desktop can run the gateway automatically with MCP Toolkit enabled.

Secure cloud sandboxes for AI agents

E2B provides secure cloud sandboxes that let AI agents execute code, run terminal commands, and interact with filesystems in isolated environments. Each sandbox spins up in ~150ms with its own OS, giving agents a safe space to run untrusted code. Supports Python, JavaScript, and any language via custom Dockerfiles. Used by AI coding assistants, data analysis agents, and code interpreters. SDK available for Python and JavaScript with a simple API for programmatic sandbox control.

Self-hosted multi-model AI chat platform

LibreChat is an open-source ChatGPT-like interface with 35K+ GitHub stars supporting multiple AI providers in a single self-hosted platform. Connect OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, Mistral, local models via Ollama, and custom endpoints simultaneously. Features conversation branching, file uploads, code interpreter, plugins, presets, multi-user support with RBAC, and LDAP/SSO authentication. Privacy-focused alternative to commercial AI chat services with full data ownership.

Open-source sandboxes and SDKs for AI agents that control desktops

Open-source computer-use infrastructure for agents that need to drive desktop environments in the background. CUA includes Cua Driver, Sandbox, Run, Bench, and Verified Data across Linux, Windows, macOS, and Android, with MCP and CLI surfaces for screenshots, accessibility trees, keyboard/mouse actions, shell commands, task evaluation, and fleet execution.

Workflow automation with AI nodes

n8n is a source-available workflow automation platform for connecting apps, APIs, data, and AI models through visual workflows and code. It supports self-hosted deployments and n8n Cloud, with integrations across communication, databases, CRM, project management, and model providers. Teams can combine deterministic automation with AI-powered steps and agent workflows while retaining control over deployment and data.

Instant cloud dev environments

GitHub Codespaces is a cloud-hosted development environment that spins up a full VS Code workspace in a dev container directly from any GitHub repo. Configurable via devcontainer.json, prebuilt for fast cold starts, and accessible through the browser or local VS Code. Used by teams that want zero-setup onboarding, consistent environments, and reproducible builds across platforms.

Open-source authentication with self-hosting

SuperTokens is an open-source authentication solution with 14K+ GitHub stars providing email/password, passwordless, social login, MFA, session management, and user management. Designed for self-hosting with Docker — full control over user data with no vendor lock-in. Pre-built UI components for React, Vue, and vanilla JS. Backend SDKs for Node.js, Python, and Go. Managed cloud option also available. Emphasizes security with rotating refresh tokens and anti-CSRF protection by default.

Headless browsers in Docker for automation at scale

Browserless is a headless browser-as-a-service platform that deploys Chrome, Firefox, and WebKit in Docker containers for web scraping, testing, and AI agent automation. It provides Puppeteer and Playwright-compatible APIs, a built-in MCP server for connecting AI assistants to browser automation, screenshot and PDF generation, and connection pooling for high-concurrency workloads. Available as self-hosted source-available software or managed cloud.

Self-hosted Heroku/Vercel alternative

Open-source, self-hostable PaaS alternative to Heroku, Vercel, and Netlify with 44K+ GitHub stars. Deploy static sites, APIs, full-stack apps, databases, and 280+ one-click services on your own VPS or bare metal via SSH. Features auto Let's Encrypt SSL, Git integration (GitHub/GitLab/Bitbucket/Gitea), S3 backups, Docker Swarm support, and a REST API for CI/CD automation. Self-hosted version is free forever with no features behind paywalls.

Source-available LLM app development platform

Source-available LLM application development platform combining a visual no-code canvas with backend capabilities for building AI workflows, RAG pipelines, and agent systems from prototype to production. Integrates hundreds of models from dozens of providers, with PDF/PPT ingestion, ReAct agents with 50+ tool integrations, and multi-step orchestration. Used by both technical and non-technical teams to ship GenAI apps like chatbots and Q&A systems.

Open-source backend-as-a-service platform

Appwrite is an open-source BaaS platform with 56K+ GitHub stars providing authentication, databases, storage, functions, messaging, and real-time APIs out of the box. Self-hostable alternative to Firebase with 15+ client and server SDKs. Features OAuth login with 30+ providers, document-based database with queries, file storage with image transforms, serverless functions, and push notifications. Docker-based deployment with a web console for management.

Cloud development environments

Gitpod is an open-source cloud development environment platform that launches ephemeral, pre-configured workspaces in seconds from any Git repository on GitHub, GitLab, or Bitbucket. Configured via .gitpod.yml, it ships a full VS Code / JetBrains IDE, cached prebuilds, and workspace snapshots — eliminating 'works on my machine' for distributed teams and open-source contributors.

Unified API proxy for 100+ LLMs

Drop-in OpenAI-compatible proxy supporting 100+ LLM providers with load balancing, spend tracking, rate limiting, and fallback routing. Acts as a unified gateway for all your AI model calls, letting teams switch between providers, enforce budgets, and add reliability layers without changing application code. Essential infrastructure for multi-model AI architectures.

Drag-and-drop LLM flow builder

Open-source protocol for connecting AI models to external tools and data sources, created by Anthropic. Provides a standardized way for LLMs to interact with APIs, databases, and local files through a universal client-server architecture. Rapidly adopted across the AI ecosystem as the standard interface between AI assistants and the tools they need to be useful.

Continuous integration and delivery

Cloud CI/CD platform known for speed and Docker-first workflows. Offers parallelism, intelligent caching, and orbs (reusable configuration packages) for common tasks. Used by Spotify, Samsung, and Ford. Strong at complex build pipelines with conditional logic, matrix builds, and granular resource allocation that help large teams optimize their build times.

ELT platform with 350+ data connectors

Airbyte is an ELT platform with 350+ pre-built connectors for syncing data from any source to warehouses, lakes, and AI pipelines. It handles incremental syncs, schema evolution, and change data capture with a connector builder for custom integrations. Used by DoorDash, Replit, and thousands of data teams. Over 15,000 GitHub stars and $150M+ in funding.

Native Linux containers on macOS via Apple Virtualization

Apple Containerization is Apple's official Swift package for running Linux containers natively on macOS using the Virtualization framework. It provides near-native performance without Docker Desktop's heavyweight VM, supporting OCI images, container networking, and a command-line interface. The library leverages Apple Silicon hardware acceleration for minimal overhead container execution on Mac development machines.

Open-source autonomous AI agent platform

AutoGPT is an open-source autonomous AI agent platform with 183K+ GitHub stars that breaks goals into subtasks and executes them independently. Features a visual Agent Builder for creating workflows without coding, persistent cloud-based agents running on triggers, a marketplace of pre-built agents, and a plugin system. Agents can browse the web, write code, manage files, and call tools autonomously while maintaining memory across sessions.

Free self-hosted PaaS

Open-source self-hostable PaaS that turns any VPS into a Heroku-style platform. CapRover wraps Docker Swarm with a friendly web UI for one-click app deploys, automatic NGINX reverse proxy with free Let's Encrypt SSL, and a one-click app store for Postgres, Redis, MongoDB, WordPress, and dozens more. Define apps via captain-definition files, scale containers, view logs, and manage volumes — all without touching the Docker CLI. Free, MIT licensed.

Workflow orchestration engine

Netflix-originated workflow orchestration platform with JSON and code-based workflow definitions, human-in-the-loop support, and AI agent orchestration capabilities. With 18k+ GitHub stars, Conductor handles complex distributed workflows at massive scale, offering built-in retry logic, event-driven triggers, and visual workflow monitoring for microservice coordination.

Programmable CI/CD engine that runs your pipelines in containers

Programmable CI/CD engine that replaces shell scripts and YAML with a typed API across 8 languages (Go, Python, TypeScript, Java, Rust, etc.). Dagger runs every pipeline step in containers for portable, locally-debuggable, cacheable builds that work identically on any CI platform. Includes GraphQL query optimization for parallelization, OpenTelemetry observability, and Dagger Cloud for managed compute.

Managed Docker build acceleration with up to 40x faster builds

Depot provides managed infrastructure for dramatically faster Docker image builds. It uses persistent build caches, native Intel and ARM builders, and optimized build scheduling to achieve up to 40x faster builds compared to standard Docker build workflows. Drop-in replacement for docker build that requires no Dockerfile changes. Used by major engineering teams to cut CI/CD pipeline times.

Instant isolated dev environments powered by Nix

Devbox is an open-source command-line tool that creates instant, reproducible development environments using Nix packages without requiring you to learn Nix. Define your project dependencies in a simple devbox.json file and get isolated shells with access to over 400,000 package versions. It eliminates dependency conflicts between projects and ensures every team member works in an identical environment, with support for devcontainers, Docker, and cloud deployment.

Simple cloud hosting for developers

Managed PaaS layer built on top of Kubernetes by DigitalOcean. Auto-deploy from GitHub and GitLab with support for Docker containers, static sites, and worker services. Integrates with DO managed databases and Spaces storage, offering a simpler and more affordable cloud platform for teams who want Heroku-like convenience without the enterprise price tag.

The smallest PaaS implementation

Dokku is a Docker-powered, open-source mini-Heroku that gives you the smallest PaaS implementation for deploying applications on your own server. Push with Git, build via Heroku buildpacks or Dockerfiles, and get automatic subdomains, SSL, zero-downtime deploys, and add-on plugins for databases and services. Ideal for self-hosted developers who want Heroku ergonomics without the cloud vendor bill.

Open-source PaaS alternative to Vercel, Heroku, and Netlify

Dokploy is a free open-source platform-as-a-service for self-hosting applications without cloud vendor lock-in. It provides automated deployments from Git repositories, built-in SSL certificates, database provisioning, Docker and Docker Compose support, and a clean web dashboard for managing multiple applications on your own servers. With 18,000+ GitHub stars, it fills the gap for teams wanting Vercel-like deployment simplicity on their own infrastructure.

Open-source control plane for AI workloads across multi-cloud GPU infrastructure

dstack is an open-source platform that orchestrates AI training and inference workloads across heterogeneous GPU infrastructure spanning multiple clouds, Kubernetes clusters, and bare-metal servers. It abstracts away cloud-specific APIs so teams define GPU requirements declaratively and dstack automatically provisions the cheapest available resources from AWS, GCP, Azure, Lambda, or on-premises hardware.

Your CI/CD scripts as code. Consistent, reproducible builds.

Build automation framework that combines Dockerfile and Makefile syntax for repeatable, containerized builds. Earthly runs every step in a container so builds produce identical results on dev laptops and CI, augmenting Make/Gradle/npm/cargo with cross-language reproducibility. Features parallel target execution, layer caching, multi-platform builds, and references across Earthfiles or repositories.

No-code knowledge base platform with visual AI workflow and built-in RAG

FastGPT is an open-source no-code AI knowledge base platform with 27,000+ GitHub stars and 500,000+ users worldwide. It combines visual workflow orchestration, built-in RAG pipelines, QA-pair extraction, and API-aligned completions into a single deployable stack that runs on just 2GB RAM via Docker one-liner deployment.

Free open-source local AWS emulator as a drop-in LocalStack replacement

Floci is a free open-source AWS emulator designed as a lightweight drop-in replacement for LocalStack Community Edition. It runs on port 4566 with the same endpoint conventions, supporting S3, SQS, DynamoDB, RDS, ElastiCache, API Gateway, Cognito, IAM, and twenty-plus other services. The Docker image is ninety megabytes versus LocalStack's one gigabyte and starts in twenty-four milliseconds.

Run your app close to users

Global application hosting platform that runs full-stack apps, databases, and services close to users in 30+ regions using lightweight Firecracker micro-VMs. Deploy Docker containers or use built-in builders for Rails, Laravel, Django, Node.js, and Go. Features persistent volumes, private networking, auto-scaling, PostgreSQL/Redis managed databases, and a powerful CLI. Ideal for latency-sensitive apps needing multi-region presence. Generous free allowance with pay-as-you-go pricing.

Free and open-source Kubernetes IDE for managing clusters visually

Freelens is a free open-source Kubernetes IDE that provides a visual desktop interface for managing clusters, workloads, and configurations. Forked from the original Lens project after its licensing change, Freelens offers the same powerful cluster management experience with real-time monitoring, log viewing, and resource editing under the MIT license.

Natural language scripting for LLM-system interaction

GPTScript is an Apache 2.0 licensed framework with 3,300+ GitHub stars that enables natural language scripting where LLMs interact with local systems, APIs, and tools through simple prompt definitions. It supports multiple model providers including OpenAI-compatible APIs and local models, providing a lightweight approach to building AI agents that can execute CLI commands, call APIs, and process files.

Instant GraphQL and REST APIs on any database

Hasura auto-generates real-time GraphQL and REST APIs directly from your database schema—PostgreSQL, MySQL, SQL Server, MongoDB, and more. It provides fine-grained row-level and column-level access control, event triggers on database changes, remote schema stitching, and real-time subscriptions out of the box. Available as a managed cloud service or self-hosted, Hasura eliminates weeks of boilerplate API development while maintaining full control over authorization logic.

Deploy web apps anywhere

Zero-downtime deployment tool created by 37signals (Basecamp/HEY) that deploys Docker containers to any VPS or bare metal server over SSH without requiring Kubernetes. Manages rolling deploys, health checks, SSL via Let's Encrypt, container registry, and load balancing with Traefik. Simple YAML-based config. Ideal for small teams deploying Rails, Node.js, or any Dockerized app. Ships as a Ruby gem. 12K+ GitHub stars and a growing alternative to complex container orchestration.

Open-source MLOps platform for Kubernetes

Kubeflow is a CNCF open-source MLOps platform with 14,000+ GitHub stars for deploying and managing machine learning workflows on Kubernetes. It provides notebooks for experimentation, scalable training pipelines with distributed computing support, model serving with autoscaling, and comprehensive pipeline orchestration for teams running AI/ML workloads in cloud-native environments.

Free, open-source local AI inference engine

LocalAI is an open-source local AI inference engine with 44K+ GitHub stars that runs LLMs, image generation, audio transcription, and embeddings entirely on consumer hardware without GPU requirements. Provides an OpenAI API-compatible REST endpoint as a drop-in replacement, supporting 1000+ models including LLaMA, Mistral, and Phi families. Features include text-to-speech, speech-to-text, function calling, constrained grammar output, and multi-modal capabilities all running locally.

Enterprise-grade RAG and MCP knowledge base with one-click deployment

MaxKB is an enterprise-grade RAG platform with 21,000+ GitHub stars from the 1Panel team. It provides one-click deployment of knowledge bases with built-in LLM integration, MCP support, and a streamlined approach to document ingestion and retrieval that prioritizes operational simplicity over configuration complexity.

Free MIT-licensed drop-in replacement for LocalStack

MiniStack is a free, MIT-licensed drop-in replacement for LocalStack that emulates 33 AWS services using real infrastructure — actual Postgres for RDS, real Redis for ElastiCache, real Docker for ECS — rather than faking API responses. Born from LocalStack's surprise paywall in March 2026, it starts in 2 seconds, idles at 30MB RAM versus LocalStack's ~500MB, and runs real services for accurate local AWS development.