nerdctl ☆

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Description:
ContaiNERD CTL - Docker-compatible CLI for containerd

Type: Formula | Latest Version: 2.2.1@0 | Tracked Since: Dec 22, 2025

Links: Homepage | GitHub | formulae.brew.sh

Stars: 9,680 | Forks: 726 | Language: Go | Category: Devops

Tags: containers containerd cli devops docker-alternative

Install: brew install nerdctl

About:
nerdctl is a Docker-compatible command-line interface for containerd, allowing users to manage containers, images, and volumes without requiring the Docker daemon. It extends containerd with features like Docker Compose support, rootless mode, and lazy pulling of images (eStargz), making it a lightweight and secure alternative for container orchestration. Its primary value lies in providing a familiar Docker CLI experience while leveraging containerd's efficiency and simplicity.

Key Features:

Docker CLI compatibility for seamless migration
Rootless container execution for enhanced security
Support for Docker Compose (nerdctl compose)
Lazy image pulling (eStargz) to reduce startup times
Integration with containerd namespaces and labels

Use Cases:

Managing containers in containerd-based environments (e.g., Kubernetes with CRI)
Running containers securely without root privileges in development or CI/CD
Replacing Docker CLI in lightweight or embedded systems where Docker daemon is unnecessary

Alternatives:

docker – Full Docker Engine with daemon, more features but heavier; nerdctl is daemonless and containerd-native
podman – Daemonless and rootless like nerdctl, but uses libpod instead of containerd; nerdctl integrates directly with containerd

Version History

Detected	Version	Change	Commit
Dec 26, 2025 6:35pm	2.2.1	VERSION_BUMP	3c38599d
Dec 22, 2025 11:18am	2.2.0	VERSION_BUMP	f4bcbf66
Nov 6, 2025 8:04am		VERSION_BUMP	0f8302fe
Sep 30, 2025 5:11pm		VERSION_BUMP	4d03e4dd
Sep 26, 2025 8:30am		VERSION_BUMP	8024607b
Sep 26, 2025 8:14am		VERSION_BUMP	1e317b97