LXC vs Docker: What's the Difference and When to Use Each?
Introduction Containers revolutionized the way we package and deploy applications. Two major containerization technologies are LXC (Linux Containers) and Docker. While they serve similar purposes, their underlying architecture and usage differ significantly. What is LXC? LXC is a userspace interface for the Linux kernel containment features. It creates system-level containers that behave more like lightweight virtual machines. Key Characteristics System containers (can run full OS) Uses cgroups and namespaces directly Close to the kernel Pros Great for simulating full Linux environments Low overhead Flexible networking Cons More complex setup Less standardization across environments Not focused on developer UX What is Docker? Docker is a platform for developing, shipping, and running applications in containers. It builds on top of container runtimes and provides tooling, APIs, and images. ...