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runfinch

runfinch/finch

An open source container development CLI for macOS, Windows and Linux, built on nerdctl, containerd and BuildKit inside a Lima VM.

Open-source alternative to:Docker Desktop

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What is it?

Finch is a command-line client for building and running containers. Its installer bundles a minimal native client with a set of existing open source components, so developers can get a working container setup without choosing and wiring up each tool themselves.

Finch's client integrates with nerdctl, which handles core commands such as build, run, push and pull. Container management is done by containerd, image builds use BuildKit to produce OCI images from Dockerfiles, and on macOS and Windows these components run inside a virtual machine managed by Lima. Finch is positioned as a developer tool rather than a production runtime, and the VM does not provide a security boundary.

The CLI supports volume and network management and Compose, and it can build and run images for other CPU architectures via the --platform option. Configuration is kept in a finch.yaml file that controls VM resources, snapshotters and credential helpers.

Key features

  • 01Native CLI that wraps nerdctl for build, run, push and pull commands.
  • 02Runs containerd and BuildKit inside a Lima-managed VM on macOS and Windows.
  • 03Builds OCI images from Dockerfiles and supports multiplatform builds.
  • 04Runs containers for other CPU architectures with the --platform option.
  • 05Supports volume and network management and Compose.
  • 06Configurable through a finch.yaml file for VM resources and credential helpers.

Use cases

  • Developers on macOS or Windows who want a Docker-style CLI without installing Docker Desktop.
  • Teams standardizing a local container setup from a single installer.
  • Building and testing multi-architecture images on Apple Silicon.

Quick start

  1. 1

    Install Finch on macOS with Homebrew

    brew install --cask finch
  2. 2

    Run a test container

    finch run --rm public.ecr.aws/finch/hello-finch

Things to know

  • Finch is a developer tool and is not meant for production or multi-tenant workloads.
  • The virtual machine on macOS and Windows is not a security boundary.
  • Finch does not implement every nerdctl command, so it is not a drop-in replacement for other tools.
  • Linux installers are packaged only for Amazon Linux; other distributions need manual dependency setup.

In collections

CLI & terminal tools

Topics

#containers#containerd#nerdctl#buildkit#cli#docker-alternative#devtools#lima#lima-vm

FAQ

What is finch?
An open source container development CLI for macOS, Windows and Linux, built on nerdctl, containerd and BuildKit inside a Lima VM. Finch is a command-line client for building and running containers. Its installer bundles a minimal native client with a set of existing open source components, so developers can get a working container setup without choosing and wiring up each tool themselves.
Is finch free to use? What license does it have?
finch is open source under the Apache-2.0 license. Check the license terms before using it in commercial products.
Is finch still maintained?
Actively maintained. The last commit to finch was on Oct 22, 2026.
What can I use finch for?
Developers on macOS or Windows who want a Docker-style CLI without installing Docker Desktop. Teams standardizing a local container setup from a single installer. Building and testing multi-architecture images on Apple Silicon.
How do I install finch?
Install Finch on macOS with Homebrew: brew install --cask finch Run a test container: finch run --rm public.ecr.aws/finch/hello-finch
Where can I get finch?
The source code and installation instructions are on GitHub: https://github.com/runfinch/finch

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