head to head · open source
Docker vs kcl
Docker has 72,238 GitHub stars, 19,309 forks, 3,902 open issues and last shipped yesterday. kcl has 2,441 stars, 177 forks, 19 open issues and last shipped yesterday. Docker leads on adoption by 2,859% (72,238 vs 2,441 stars). Docker is written in Go under Apache-2.0; kcl is written in Rust under Apache-2.0. Docker has attracted 27% as many forks as stars, kcl 7%. Docker was the more recently maintained of the two, and both are self-hostable with no licence fee.
Two open source projects, one decision. Both are free and self-hostable — the differences are community size, license terms, language stack and release pace.
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Side by side
| Docker | kcl | |
|---|---|---|
| GitHub stars | ★ 72K | ★ 2.4K |
| License | Apache-2.0 | Apache-2.0 |
| Written in | Go | Rust |
| Last push | 2026-11-03 | 2026-11-03 |
| Forks | ⑂ 19K | ⑂ 177 |
| Self-hosting | Yes | Yes |
| Data ownership | Your server | Your server |
pick Docker if
- You weight community size — 72K stars and counting
- You want the Apache-2.0 license terms
- Your stack matches Go
- You value the larger contributor base for long-term maintenance
pick kcl if
- You want the kcl feature set and don't need the biggest community
- You prefer the Apache-2.0 license terms
- Your stack matches Rust
- You evaluated both and kcl fits your workflow better
About Docker
The Moby Project ================ Moby is an open source project created by Docker to enable and accelerate software containerization. It provides a "Lego set" of toolkit components, the framework for assembling them into custom container based systems, and a place for all container enthusiasts and professionals to experiment and exchange ideas. Components include container build tools, a container registry, orchestration tools, a runtime and more, and these can be used as building blocks in conjunction with other tools and projects. Principles Moby is an open project guided by strong principles, aiming to be…
read the full Docker overview →
About kcl
KCL: Constraint based Record & Functional Language English 简体中文 Introduction Features What is it for Installation Documentation Contributing Introduction KCL is an open source, constraint based record and functional language that enhances the writing of complex configurations, including those for cloud native scenarios. With its advanced programming language technology and practices, KCL is dedicated to promoting better modularity, scalability, and stability for configurations. It enables simpler logic writing and offers ease of automation APIs and integration with homegrown systems. What is it for? You can use…
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Frequently asked questions
Is Docker or kcl more popular?
Docker has 72,238 GitHub stars and kcl has 2,441. Docker has the larger community by that measure.
Are Docker and kcl free?
Both are open source. Docker is licensed under Apache-2.0 and kcl under Apache-2.0. Neither carries a licence fee.
What is the difference between Docker and kcl?
Docker is written in Go and kcl in Rust. The practical differences are community size, licence terms, language stack and release cadence — all compared in the table above.
Which should I choose, Docker or kcl?
Choose Docker if you want the larger community (72,238 stars) or its Apache-2.0 licence terms. Choose kcl if its feature set, stack or Apache-2.0 licence fits better. Both are self-hostable.