Docker Desktop - northwood-labs/macos-for-development GitHub Wiki

Overview

Docker is a tool for leveraging containerized environments, making it easy to run/test software or host local development environments.

Docker leverages a feature of the Linux kernel, and therefore does not run natively on macOS (or Windows). Docker Desktop is a desktop application and set of CLI tools that enable you to interact with containers. Docker Desktop installs a very small Linux environment and binds its virtualization to macOS using HyperKit and Hypervisor.framework.

[!IMPORTANT] Again, Docker does not run natively on macOS. Docker Desktop is not just the desktop application — it's any use of the docker CLI tool used directly in a macOS terminal.

Installation with Homebrew

The following command will install the complete Docker Desktop package, including all CLI tools. Docker Desktop will then self-update.

brew install --cask docker

Recommended settings

Settings not listed here, set them however you want.

These are up-to-date as of v4.37.1 (178610).

Settings Tab Setting Value
General Use containerd for pulling and storing images ✓
Virtual Machine Options ✓ Use Docker VMM (beta)
Resources → Advanced Enable Resource Saver ✓
Software updates Automatically check for updates ✓
Always download updates ✓
Extensions Enable Docker Extensions ✓
Allow only extensions distributed through the Docker Marketplace ✓
Advanced Choose how to configure the installation of Docker's CLI tools System (requires password)
Allow the default Docker socket to be used (requires password) ✓

Alternatives

If you don't want to use Docker Desktop, then you can run a Linux VM with Docker installed there. However, most documentation will continue to only document for Docker Desktop. You must be able to transpose those instructions for your alternate setup.