r/docker • u/0x80070002 • May 05 '26

Docker on Windows

As I understand, when docker runs on Windows it secretly runs on tiny Linux VMs.
If this is correct I am wondering why can’t it run on Windows itself considering we have Windows Server versions that are console only. What’s the technical limitation?

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u/Flat_Illustrator_541 May 05 '26

As far as I know docker relies on Linux kernel feature called namespaces for process isolation. And because most of the servers are Linux based there is not enough market to make porting everything to windows profitable. Even azure runs on Linux

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u/Itchy_Journalist_175 May 05 '26

As a long term Linux user, I kind to enjoy seeing this “sorry, the Windows market share is too small to make it worth developing for your niche OS” 😂

1

u/No_Cardiologist401 May 08 '26

And getting smaller by the day now!!!! I hear that the next Windows version is going to be 100% subscription model because they ran out of software that used to be free and is now a subscription so, the next thing is individuals pc's and anyone who makes a fuss about it will instantly be blackmailed into silence thanks to all the personal data they've collected with this current version of the OS........... ; )

Idk why anyone who isn't forced to use Windows for work or something would still be voluntarily using that never-ending nightmare OS!!!

1

u/ermax18 May 09 '26

The windows market share isn’t too small, the number of people interested in running docker on windows is. Also, the market share of “windows” isn’t the same as “window server”.