---
id: podman-compose
version: "1.6.0"
license: GPL-2.0-only
license_treatment: copyleft
maintenance: active
---

# podman-compose — A script to run docker-compose.yml using podman

License: copyleft · Maintenance: active · Downloads: 393.0K/mo

## 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 above — verify before relying.

Podman Compose runs Docker Compose specification files using Podman as the container backend, without requiring a daemon or root privileges.

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

pip install podman-compose
uv add podman-compose
poetry add podman-compose

## Installing podman-compose

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.

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 up

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.

Verify 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_current
- Install friction: low
- Maintenance: active
- Downloads: 393.0K/month (top 15,000 on PyPI)
- Known vulnerabilities: none known

## Tags

podman compose orchestration, docker compose with podman, rootless container compose, daemonless container management, compose spec implementation podman, multi-container podman setup, podman-compose yaml, container-orchestration, podman, rootless

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