▲ 180 today1.3k starsRustNew · 8d old
Kiri offers Docker-compatible containers that start in 2.5 ms
What is kiri?
Kiri is a tiny Rust-based runtime that runs Docker images on macOS, Windows and Linux. It replaces Docker Desktop with a 15 MB daemon that can spin up a container in about 2.5 ms and sleeps its VM after a minute of idle time.
Who it is for
Developers who want faster local container workflows can swap Docker Desktop for Kiri and keep using the same Docker CLI, Compose and buildx.
Try it in 60 seconds
You need: A supported OS (macOS 14+, Windows 10/11, or Linux)
docker --context kiri run --rm alpine echo hellodocker --context kiri compose up -dkiri k8s startkiri machine create dev --distro ubuntu && kiri machine shell dev
Apache-2.0 licenseUpdated todayRust27 open issues
New projects are not vetted. Skim the code, and run it in a fresh folder or a container before giving it your files or keys.
The story so far
Early Signal first spotted libracoder/kiri on November 8, 2026, when it had 962 GitHub stars. It has since grown to 1.3k. On its busiest day it gained 180 stars. The project is 8 days old and written mainly in Rust. It is published under the Apache-2.0 license and has 88 forks. Early Signal files it under Coding, Image, Inference.
Questions about kiri
- Is kiri free and open source?
- Yes. libracoder/kiri is open source under the Apache-2.0 license, and the code is on GitHub at https://github.com/libracoder/kiri.
- How do I install kiri?
- Use one of these, depending on your setup: docker --context kiri run --rm alpine echo hello · docker --context kiri compose up -d · kiri k8s start · kiri machine create dev --distro ubuntu && kiri machine shell dev
- What do I need to run kiri?
- A supported OS (macOS 14+, Windows 10/11, or Linux)