# Buildah

> Apache-2.0 rootless OCI image builds without Docker

**Category:** DevOps  
**Pricing:** open-source  
**URL:** https://buildah.io  
**GitHub:** https://github.com/podman-container-tools/buildah  
**Added:** 2026-09-14

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## The Hook

Buildah builds OCI images rootless when you want Dockerfile/Containerfile builds without a privileged Docker daemon.

## What's Good

Apache-2.0. containers/buildah (Podman tooling family). Builds from Dockerfile/Containerfile or scripted `buildah from`/`run`/`commit` — daemonless, rootless-friendly, mounts cleanly into Podman workflows. Docs at buildah.io; source github.com/containers/buildah.

## The Catch

Vs Docker (encyclopedia — engine+Desktop), Podman (*run* containers/pods), ko (*Go-only* no-Dockerfile), and Hadolint (Dockerfile *linter*): Buildah is the *image builder*, not the runtime and not the linter. Learning curve if you leave Dockerfile mode for the scripted API.

## Verdict

Apache-2.0 rootless image builds. Free forever; Podman runs what Buildah builds.