← All tech

Podman + krun

microvmmicrovm-toolopen source

Podman with the krun runtime, run an OCI container as a with the familiar podman CLI.

Podman + krun is Podman using libkrun as its OCI runtime (podman run --runtime krun), so a normal container command instead launches a hardware-isolated with its own kernel. It is the recommended low-friction way on Linux (and macOS via HVF) to get a real boundary from your existing container workflow, the same podman commands, upgraded from shared-kernel to isolation.

Strengths

  • MicroVM isolation from the familiar podman CLI, one --runtime flag
  • Recommended low-friction 'real boundary' path on Linux
  • Free and open source

Limitations

  • Inherits libkrun's in-process model (second wall not automatic)
  • Needs virtualization support (KVM/HVF)
  • microVM device model is more limited than a full container/VM

Files & editor

desktop-remote

The container filesystem lives in a microVM; Remote-SSH in or edit inside.

How you get your project into the environment and edit it. Shared-kernel routes bind-mount host files for your desktop editor; own-kernel routes keep files in the guest, so a desktop editor attaches over remote, or you edit inside. Mounts and remote editing.

Sources