Docker4Drupal vs Rancher Desktop
Docker4Drupal
github.comRancher Desktop
rancherdesktop.ioSide by side
| Figure | Docker4Drupal | Rancher Desktop |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| API | — | Yes |
| Plans published | 1 | 1 |
| Spec score · Container Development Environments | 7.9 (#18) | 8.2 (#11) |
| Purpose | Docker4Drupal provides Docker images and a preconfigured Compose file for running a local Drupal environment. | Rancher Desktop is an open-source desktop application for container management and Kubernetes. |
| Requirements | Docker is required, and Linux users are instructed to install Docker Compose as well. | The documented macOS requirements include macOS 13 or higher, a persistent internet connection, and an Apple Silicon or Intel processor with VT-x. |
| Support | The repository directs users to ask questions on Discord and Slack. | Community support is available through the Rancher Desktop Slack channel and GitHub Issues. |
Plans
In their own words
Docker4Drupal
Docker4Drupal is a local Drupal environment built from Docker images and a preconfigured Compose setup. It lists images for Drupal CMS 2 and vanilla Drupal 11 and 10, with a stack that includes Nginx, Apache, PHP, MariaDB, PostgreSQL, Valkey, Redis, Memcached, Varnish, Node.js, Solr and OpenSearch. Optional tools include Mailpit, Gotenberg, Webgrind, Xhprof viewer, Adminer, phpMyAdmin, Selenium Chrome and Traefik. You can use the bundled Drupal setup or mount an existing codebase. Traefik supports routing multiple projects through a shared port or separate ports; Mailpit catches outbound email by default, and OpenSMTPD can be enabled for delivery. Documentation covers Xdebug for web and command-line debugging and IDE configuration such as PHPStorm. Docker is required, with Docker Compose also required on Linux. Database volumes persist by default, with bind mounts recommended when data should stay attached across restarts. It is free at free under the MIT license, for local development; the project directs server deployment users to Wodby’s Drupal stack.
Rancher Desktop
Rancher Desktop is a free, open-source desktop application for managing local containers and Kubernetes on macOS, Windows, and Linux. Users choose Moby/dockerd with the Docker CLI or containerd with nerdctl to build, push, pull, and run containers. Its built-in Kubernetes uses k3s, and Preferences let users select a Kubernetes version or reset Kubernetes and the container runtime. The graphical interface manages images, containers, settings, and local Kubernetes resources, with controls for networking, virtual-machine resources, and registry access. Installation includes Helm, kubectl, nerdctl, Moby, and Docker Compose. Trivy-based image scanning reports vulnerabilities and configuration issues, and Docker Desktop Extensions can be installed through the UI catalog or rdctl. The application uses a virtual machine on macOS and Linux and WSL 2 on Windows. Windows requires WSL and virtualization capabilities; without the privileged service, exposed container applications are limited to 127.0.0.1. The project is intended for local container and Kubernetes work, rather than managing Kubernetes clusters.