Docker Compose vs LXC: What are the differences?

Introduction

Docker Compose and LXC are containerization technologies used in the deployment and management of applications. While they both serve similar purposes, they have key differences that distinguish them from each other.

1. Storage Utilization: Docker Compose primarily focuses on efficient storage utilization through the use of shared layers. It uses a layered file system that allows different instances of a container to share common layers, reducing disk space usage. On the other hand, LXC uses full system containers that require more storage space as each container has its own complete file system.

2. Dependency Management: Docker Compose provides an easy way to define and manage dependencies between different containers using a declarative YAML file. It allows users to specify dependencies and their versions, ensuring that all required services are initialized in the correct order. LXC, on the other hand, does not have built-in dependency management capabilities and relies on manual configuration.

3. Isolation Level: Docker Compose uses operating system-level virtualization to provide application-level isolation. It achieves this by leveraging Linux kernel features such as namespaces and cgroups. LXC, on the other hand, provides full system isolation where each container has its own complete operating system stack.

4. Ease of Use: Docker Compose is designed to be user-friendly and provides a higher level of abstraction compared to LXC. Its declarative syntax and extensive ecosystem make it easier to manage containers, define networks, and configure services. LXC, being a lower-level tool, requires more manual configuration and has a steeper learning curve.

5. Portability: Docker Compose is known for its portability across different operating systems and environments. It allows users to define a consistent configuration file that can be used to run containers in different environments without modification. LXC, on the other hand, might face compatibility issues when moving containers across various environments due to differences in underlying configurations.

6. Community Support: Docker Compose benefits from a large community of users and contributors, resulting in extensive documentation, tutorials, and third-party tools. The active community ensures regular updates, bug fixes, and new features. In contrast, LXC has a smaller community and may have limited resources and documentation available.

In summary, Docker Compose offers efficient storage utilization, dependency management, application-level isolation, ease of use, portability, and strong community support. LXC, on the other hand, provides full system isolation, requires more manual configuration, and may have limitations in terms of portability and community support.