# containerd/nerdctl

contaiNERD CTL - Docker-compatible CLI for containerd, with support for Compose, Rootless, eStargz, OCIcrypt, IPFS, ...

Repository: https://github.com/containerd/nerdctl
Canonical: https://ross.abutalabs.com/products/nerdctl
Language: Go
License: Apache-2.0
License Family: permissive
Topics: containerd
Last push: 2026-08-26T02:37:09+00:00

## Health v2 (maintenance only)
Score: 97/100 (v2, computed 2026-09-03T02:39:23.370411+00:00)
- activity 99, release rhythm 93, longevity 100
- inputs: {"age_days": 2098, "days_push": 8, "days_rel": 44, "gap_med": 26, "n_releases_24m": 22}
- flags: none
- formula: round(0.45*activity + 0.35*rhythm + 0.20*longevity); archived -> min(score, 10)

## Adoption (not part of the score)
Stars 10333, forks 818 (observed 2026-08-28T04:10:41.664533+00:00)

## What it is
nerdctl is a Docker-compatible command-line interface for containerd, supporting the same UI/UX as docker including Compose, BuildKit builds, and rootless mode. It adds containerd-specific extras such as lazy-pulling (Stargz/Nydus/OverlayBD), encrypted images, IPFS-based P2P distribution, and image signing with cosign.

## Use cases
- run containers with containerd using docker-like commands
- build images with buildkit without docker
- use docker compose with containerd
- debug local kubernetes containers and build images without a registry
- run rootless containers
- pull images lazily with stargz or nydus
- distribute container images over ipfs

## When to choose
- you use containerd directly and want a familiar docker-like CLI
- you need compose and buildkit support without installing Docker
- you want rootless containers or advanced image features like encryption and lazy-pulling
- you develop against local Kubernetes and want to build/load images without a registry

## When to avoid
- you already use Docker and are happy with its toolchain
- you need full Docker feature parity or Docker-specific tooling
- you want a GUI or high-level orchestration rather than a CLI

## Facets
- artifact type: cli-tool
- maturity: active
- function: cli, container-runtime, developer-tools, deployment
- domain: developer-tools, cloud-computing
- platform: windows, go, cli
- tags: containerd, docker-compatible, compose, rootless-containers, buildkit, kubernetes-debugging, oci-images, estargz, ipfs, containers, devops, linux, macos

## Member repositories
- containerd/nerdctl (main) score 97

## Provenance
- Observed fields: from GitHub, fetched 2026-08-28T04:10:41.664533+00:00.
- Health v2: computed from the inputs above; adoption is never an input.
- Inferred fields (summary, facets, guidance): AI-extracted, prompt v1, taxonomy v1, on 2026-08-29T17:19:09.002060+00:00, confidence not recorded.
  - readme: https://github.com/containerd/nerdctl (fetched 2026-08-28T04:10:41.664533+00:00, sha 60d4e3adbe52)
- Data as of 2026-08-30T08:39:29.467469+00:00.