Getting Started with Podman for DevOps Professionals.

Introduction.

In the rapidly evolving world of software development and operations, containerization has become an indispensable practice for DevOps professionals. It enables teams to build, ship, and run applications consistently across environments, from local development setups to production-grade cloud infrastructures.

For years, Docker has been the go-to tool for containerization, praised for its simplicity, vast ecosystem, and developer-friendly tooling. However, as container technology matures and security demands intensify, alternative tools have started gaining attention and Podman is leading that wave.

Podman, short for Pod Manager, is a container engine developed by Red Hat that offers a fresh and more secure approach to running containers. It supports the same OCI (Open Container Initiative) standards as Docker, allowing it to run and manage containers using similar commands and workflows.

But unlike Docker, Podman does not rely on a central daemon and doesn’t require root privileges to function. This daemonless and rootless architecture is not just a technical curiosity it’s a significant leap forward in terms of security, portability, and system compatibility. For DevOps engineers who prioritize automation, security, and control, Podman presents a compelling alternative that aligns perfectly with modern DevOps principles.

With growing concerns over the security of running container daemons with root access, many organizations are looking to mitigate risks without sacrificing performance or usability.

Podman answers this call by enabling unprivileged users to run containers safely and independently. It integrates naturally with tools like systemd, allowing containers to run as services, which is a boon for teams managing long-running workloads or deploying microservices on Linux servers.

For those managing CI/CD pipelines, Podman can be easily integrated into GitLab, GitHub Actions, or Jenkins, offering the same capabilities as Docker, but with enhanced flexibility and fewer security headaches.

Another advantage that makes Podman attractive for DevOps workflows is its near-total CLI compatibility with Docker. In fact, many users can switch to Podman by simply aliasing docker to podman in their terminal configuration.

This means existing scripts, training, and processes often continue working out of the box. And for teams managing multiple containers or orchestrating application stacks, Podman Compose offers a familiar Docker Compose-like experience. It might not yet have all the features of its more mature counterpart, but it’s rapidly evolving and serves many common use cases effectively.

The adoption of Podman isn’t just about replacing Docker; it’s about rethinking how containers are managed, secured, and integrated into system processes. As enterprises embrace DevOps at scale, tools that support security-first design, seamless automation, and multi-environment consistency are more important than ever. Podman brings these elements together in a way that empowers teams without overcomplicating their workflows.

This guide is tailored for DevOps professionals engineers, SREs, sysadmins, and architects who want to understand how Podman fits into their toolchain. Whether you’re considering replacing Docker, setting up a rootless CI environment, or just experimenting with alternative container runtimes, this blog will walk you through everything you need to get started.

We’ll cover installation, basic usage, systemd integration, and real-world use in DevOps pipelines. By the end, you’ll see that Podman isn’t just an alternative it’s a robust, production-ready tool that deserves a place in your DevOps toolkit.

What is Podman?

Podman is an open-source, OCI-compliant container engine developed by Red Hat, designed to manage containers and pods without requiring a central daemon. At a glance, Podman offers many of the same core functionalities as Docker: it allows users to build, run, manage, and share containers. However, the major distinction lies in its daemonless architecture each Podman command runs as a separate process, without the need for a continuously running service.

This makes Podman inherently more secure, more scriptable, and easier to integrate into system-level operations. In addition to being daemonless, Podman supports rootless containers, which means containers can be run by non-root users, reducing the attack surface and avoiding permission escalation issues a key consideration for security-conscious DevOps teams.

Podman is fully compliant with OCI (Open Container Initiative) standards, which ensures compatibility with a wide range of container images and tools. Its command-line interface (CLI) is nearly identical to Docker’s, enabling developers and system administrators to switch with minimal effort.

You can even alias docker to podman in your shell, and most Docker commands and scripts will continue to work seamlessly. This compatibility has helped Podman rapidly gain traction among users who want to maintain existing workflows while benefiting from improved security and flexibility. Beyond simple container management, Podman introduces the concept of pods, similar to those in Kubernetes, allowing users to group containers that share resources and networking. This feature provides a lightweight way to simulate Kubernetes-like deployments on local or edge environments.

Another strength of Podman is its integration with systemd, the system and service manager used by most modern Linux distributions. Podman can generate native systemd service files for containers, enabling them to run as persistent background services that start automatically on boot.

This tight system integration is particularly valuable for DevOps professionals deploying containerized services directly on Linux hosts, without relying on full container orchestration platforms. Additionally, tools like Podman Compose offer a familiar alternative to Docker Compose, allowing multi-container application setups to be defined and launched with ease.

Podman offers a secure, flexible, and modern approach to containerization. Its daemonless and rootless design, Docker compatibility, system-level integration, and adherence to open standards make it a powerful tool for DevOps workflows whether you’re running containers locally, deploying microservices, or integrating with CI/CD pipelines.

Podman is not just a drop-in replacement for Docker; it’s a next-generation container engine built for the needs of today’s fast-moving, security-focused DevOps environments.

Why Use Podman in DevOps?

DevOps is all about automation, repeatability, and secure, scalable deployment. Podman supports these goals by offering:

• Better Security: Run containers without root privileges.
• Docker CLI Compatibility: Migrate existing Docker scripts with minimal effort.
• Systemd Integration: Treat containers like system services.
• Improved Testing: Safer local development and testing environments.
• CI/CD Ready: Easily integrate with GitLab, GitHub Actions, Jenkins, or custom pipelines.

In short, Podman aligns with modern DevOps principles automation, security, and infrastructure as code.

Installing Podman on Ubuntu

You can install Podman on Ubuntu with just a few commands:

sudo apt update
sudo apt -y install podman

Verify installation:

podman --version

If you’re replacing Docker, you can make Podman behave like Docker:

alias docker=podman

This allows you to use existing Docker commands or scripts with little to no modification.

Basic Podman Commands

Here are some common Docker-style operations, performed with Podman:

Running Containers as a Service (with systemd)

One of Podman’s standout features is its integration with systemd, which lets you treat containers like traditional Linux services.

Generate a systemd unit for your container:

podman generate systemd --name mycontainer --files --restart-policy=always

This will create a .service file you can copy to /etc/systemd/system/ and manage like any other service:

sudo systemctl enable mycontainer.service
sudo systemctl start mycontainer.service

This is great for automating startup containers in production environments.

Podman in CI/CD Pipelines

You can easily integrate Podman into GitLab CI, Jenkins, or GitHub Actions.

Example in a GitLab CI pipeline:

build:
  image: ubuntu:latest
  before_script:
    - apt-get update && apt-get install -y podman
  script:
    - podman build -t myapp .
    - podman run --rm myapp bash -c "pytest tests/"
    

Podman’s rootless operation is perfect for CI runners, as it minimizes security risks and avoids the need for elevated privileges.

Podman Compose: A Docker Compose Alternative

If you use Docker Compose, you can transition to Podman with Podman Compose, a community-maintained project that mimics the Compose experience:

sudo apt install podman-compose
podman-compose up

Note: It’s not as mature as Docker Compose but works well for many use cases.

Troubleshooting Tips

• Permission issues? Try rootless mode or inspect with podman info.
• Missing features vs Docker? Check compatibility docs or consider using podman-docker wrapper.
• Need Kubernetes integration? Use podman kube to generate Kubernetes YAML from containers.

Final Thoughts

Podman is more than just a Docker alternativeit’s a modern, secure, and flexible container engine that fits naturally into DevOps workflows. From local development to production services, Podman offers everything you need to build, run, and automate containerized applications without compromising on security or compatibility.

If you’re looking to modernize your infrastructure, reduce attack surfaces, or future-proof your container strategy, Podman is absolutely worth exploring.

Next Steps

• Install Podman on your dev machine
• Try replacing Docker in your CI/CD pipeline
• Explore rootless containers and systemd integration
• Read the official docs: https://podman.io