podman-compose
A script to run docker-compose.yml using podman
Decision gist · record as of 2026-08-14
Yes, if you use Podman and need Docker Compose compatibility. The package is actively maintained, has low install friction, and solves a real gap—running Compose files with Podman's rootless, daemon-less model. The GPL-2.0-only license is a consideration for proprietary use. No known vulnerabilities as of 2026-08-14.AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page — verify before relying
Before you install
- Podman must be installed on your system; Python 3.9 or newer required.
- The podman dnsname plugin is optional but recommended for container-to-container DNS resolution.
- Low friction: pure Python wheel with only two runtime dependencies (python-dotenv and pyyaml).
License · maintenance · safety
GPL-2.0-only (copyleft) — GPL-2.0-only copyleft license: you may use and modify this package freely, but any derivative work or distribution must also be licensed under GPL-2.0-only. This is a strong copyleft obligation.
last release 2026-06-03 (72 days) · last repo commit 2026-08-11 · 6,187 stars
0 known vulnerabilities (OSV.dev, 2026-08-14) · 392,951 downloads/mo, #7,001 on PyPI
Alternatives
Verify before relying
pip install podman-compose
podman-compose -f docker-compose.yml up- Exact feature parity with Docker Compose Spec—whether all compose-file v2/v3 features are fully supported
- Performance characteristics compared to docker-compose when handling large compose files or many containers
What it is and what it does
Podman Compose is a Python script that translates Docker Compose YAML files into Podman commands, letting you orchestrate multi-container environments using Podman instead of Docker. It implements the Compose Spec and runs containers rootlessly and without a daemon—each compose command directly invokes podman, so there is no background service to manage.
The package depends only on podman, PyYAML, and python-dotenv. It supports modern Podman versions (3.4 and later) and is designed as a single-file script you can drop into your PATH. It's useful for developers who want Docker Compose-like workflows on systems using Podman, particularly in rootless or daemon-less environments.
Use it for
- Run multi-container development stacks (databases, services, web apps) defined in docker-compose.yml files without Docker installed
- Orchestrate containers in rootless mode for improved security and user isolation
- Migrate from Docker Compose to Podman without rewriting compose files
- Set up local testing environments that match container orchestration patterns without daemon overhead
- Use standard Compose Spec files in CI/CD pipelines where Podman is the container runtime
Worth the install?
AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page. Verify before relying on it.
Yes, if you use Podman and need Docker Compose compatibility.
The package is actively maintained, has low install friction, and solves a real gap—running Compose files with Podman's rootless, daemon-less model. The GPL-2.0-only license is a consideration for proprietary use. No known vulnerabilities as of 2026-08-14.
Install
podman-compose on PyPI
Before you install
Low friction: pure Python wheel with only two runtime dependencies (python-dotenv and pyyaml). Actively maintained as of 2026-06-03 with recent commits. Requires Python 3.9 or newer and podman installed on the system.
Podman must be installed on your system; Python 3.9 or newer required. The podman dnsname plugin is optional but recommended for container-to-container DNS resolution.
License in practice
GPL-2.0-only copyleft license: you may use and modify this package freely, but any derivative work or distribution must also be licensed under GPL-2.0-only. This is a strong copyleft obligation.
Quickstart
pip install podman-compose
podman-compose -f docker-compose.yml upVerify before relying
- Exact feature parity with Docker Compose Spec—whether all compose-file v2/v3 features are fully supported
- Performance characteristics compared to docker-compose when handling large compose files or many containers
Package facts
| License | GPL-2.0-only copyleft |
| Python support | Supports the current Python release >=3.9 |
| Install friction | Low. Pure-Python wheel |
| Runtime dependencies | 2 packagespython-dotenvpyyaml |
| Maintenance | Actively maintained 72 days since the last release |
| Last repo commit | |
| First released | |
| Downloads | 392,951 / month, #7,001 on PyPI 30-day window, as of 2026-08-14 |
| Known vulnerabilities | None known OSV.dev, checked 2026-08-14 |
| Classifiers | Development Status :: 3 - AlphaIntended Audience :: DevelopersOperating System :: OS IndependentProgramming Language :: PythonProgramming Language :: Python :: 3Programming Language :: Python :: 3.10Programming Language :: Python :: 3.11Programming Language :: Python :: 3.12Programming Language :: Python :: 3.13Programming Language :: Python :: 3.9Topic :: Software Development :: Build Tools |
Evidence: podman_compose-1.6.0-py3-none-any.whl
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See also docker-compose · podman · pycomposefile · tox-docker · apache-airflow-providers-docker · prefect-docker · llm-sandbox · pytest-docker · dumb-init · molecule-plugins