Podman is an open-source container engine designed as a drop-in, daemonless alternative to Docker. It supports the full OCI (Open Container Initiative) ecosystem, meaning you can build, run, and manage containers using familiar commands. It works on Linux, macOS, and Windows (via WSL2).
Podman removes the need for a long-running background service, which reduces attack surface and gives you more control over how containers run. Rootless mode makes it safer for developers and organizations that need container isolation without granting root privileges. For teams pursuing more secure or regulated environments, Podman helps meet compliance goals while staying compatible with common container workflows.
Podman uses a fork-exec model to run containers directly as child processes rather than through a central daemon. It supports pods (groups of containers sharing resources), remote management, Kubernetes YAML generation, and integration with Buildah and Skopeo for building and moving images.
