# ko

> Apache-2.0 Go→OCI images without a Dockerfile

**Category:** DevOps  
**Pricing:** open-source  
**URL:** https://ko.build  
**GitHub:** https://github.com/ko-build/ko  
**Added:** 2026-09-14

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## The Hook

ko builds and publishes Go binaries as OCI images when writing a Dockerfile is pure ceremony.

## What's Good

Apache-2.0. ko-build/ko (ex google/ko). Builds Go apps into OCI images from source — no Dockerfile, no Docker daemon required for the happy path. Multi-arch, SBOM/signing hooks, and `ko apply` into Kubernetes. Docs at ko.build; source github.com/ko-build/ko.

## The Catch

Vs Docker/Buildah (general image builders) and Earthly (Earthfile builds): ko is *Go-only containerize-from-source*, not a general Dockerfile/Buildah recipe engine. Non-Go runtimes and multi-language images are out of scope. Registry auth and base-image choice are still yours.

## Verdict

Apache-2.0 Go→OCI. Free forever; Dockerfile-free when the app is Go.