Container runtimes
OrbStack, Docker Desktop, Colima or Podman: which one Joppa uses for services, how to choose it and start it.
Services run in containers. Joppa doesn’t ship a runtime: it uses the one you already have. Domains and HTTPS don’t need one.
Supported runtimes
| Runtime | Default start command |
|---|---|
| OrbStack | orb start |
| Docker Desktop | open -a Docker (macOS), systemctl --user start docker-desktop (Linux) |
| Colima | colima start |
| Podman | podman machine start (nothing to start on Linux) |
On Linux, a directly installed Docker (without Docker Desktop) is used through its current context.
Which one is used
By default (Automatic), Joppa takes the first one running, in this order: OrbStack, Docker Desktop, Colima, Podman. If several are running, the Services page says so and you can pick one in Settings › Containers › Runtime.
If no runtime is running, the Services page offers ▶ Start OrbStack (or yours). If none is installed, it lists the ones to install.
Custom start command
Settings › Containers › Custom start command replaces the command run by the “Start” button. Useful for Colima, for example:
colima start --cpu 4 --memory 8Leave it empty for the default command.