A Docker-compatible container CLI for macOS 26+ that uses Apple's native Containerization framework instead of Docker Desktop.
Mocker is a Docker-compatible container management CLI tool built for macOS 26 and later. It replicates the Docker command-line interface and supports Docker Compose, but runs on Apple's native Containerization framework instead of requiring Docker Desktop. This allows developers to use their existing Docker commands and scripts on macOS without the overhead of a separate virtualization layer.
macOS developers and DevOps engineers who use Docker for local development and want a native, Docker Desktop-free alternative on macOS 26+. It's ideal for those who rely on Docker CLI commands and Compose files in their workflows.
Developers choose Mocker because it offers a seamless, drop-in replacement for Docker CLI on macOS, eliminating the need for Docker Desktop while maintaining full command compatibility. Its native integration with Apple's Containerization framework provides a more integrated macOS experience with equivalent compute performance.
Docker-compatible container CLI built on Apple's Containerization framework. Same commands, same flags — mocker run, ps, stop, build, compose, stats — all working on macOS 26.
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Supports 111 Docker commands with matching flags, allowing existing scripts and workflows to run unchanged, as highlighted in the README's compatibility notes.
Leverages Apple's Containerization framework for seamless operation on macOS 26+, eliminating the need for Docker Desktop and providing a more integrated experience.
Works with Docker Compose v2 and existing docker-compose.yml files, handling dependency ordering and service management, making it easy to transition.
Stores all container, image, network, and volume metadata in ~/.mocker/ using JSON files, simplifying inspection and management as detailed in the architecture section.
Only runs on macOS 26+ with Apple Silicon, excluding older macOS versions and Intel Macs, which restricts its user base significantly.
Benchmarks show container startup is 3.6x slower than Docker Desktop due to Apple's VM-per-container model, impacting development speed for frequent restarts.
Missing key features like registry authentication and compose scaling, as admitted in the roadmap, which can hinder advanced Docker workflows.
Some Docker flags are unsupported by Apple's Containerization runtime, leading to warnings or errors, as noted in the compatibility section of the README.
Mocker is an open-source alternative to the following products: