Docker Desktop vs Tilt

Docker Desktop brings container development and deployment tools together for developers and teams. It includes Docker Engine, Docker CLI, Docker Compose, Docker Build, and Docker Kubernetes, with support for building images and Compose workflows. Its built-in Kubernetes environment lets users deploy, scale, test, and manage containerized applications locally without an external cluster. Docker Debug offers command-line diagnostics for containers and images, including slim containers, while Extensions allow third-party tools for debugging, testing, security, and networking. Downloads cover macOS with Apple Silicon or Intel, Windows with AMD64 or ARM64, and Linux; web is also listed as a platform. Docker Personal is free. Pro is $9 a month, Team is $15 a month, and Business is $24 a month. Paid-plan allowances and user limits differ. Business lists VDI support and additional security controls. Commercial use at companies with more than 250 employees or more than $10 million in annual revenue requires a paid subscription.

Tilt is a free, open-source development environment for teams building microservice applications that deploy to Kubernetes. It watches files, builds container images and updates the development environment when code changes. Its live_update feature deploys changes to running containers in seconds, including compiled-language code or dependency changes. Tilt can start the application and automate rebuilds, with logs, broken builds and runtime errors in its feedback loop. Its UI collects service logs and shows the development environment's state.

Teams configure services and workflows with Tiltfiles using Kubernetes YAML and Docker images; documentation also describes integrating Bazel builds. Tilt has an extension system for sharing Tiltfile functionality, such as team scripts and custom buttons, and provides editor support for VS Code, selected JetBrains IDEs and other editors through an embedded language server. It runs on macOS, Linux and Windows. The standard setup requires Docker, kubectl and a local Kubernetes cluster, though workflows can also use options such as Helm, Podman or local processes. Tilt is maintained as open source by Docker, Inc. under the Apache-2.0 license and costs nothing.