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Dev tools · November 4, 2026

Hyperbutler – Docker on Windows without WSL, 320 MB at idle

Run Docker on Windows with less RAM, less disk, and no WSL. hyperbutler runs dockerd in a small Hyper-V VM through the Host Compute Service and works with the stock docker CLI and Compose. Open source, Apache-2.0.

Hyperbutler – Docker on Windows without WSL, 320 MB at idle launched on November 4, 2026 with 4 votes, #124 of 678 launches that month and more than 50% of that year's launches.

Visit hyperbutler.dev ↗Alternativestop 18% of November 2026

What it does

hyperbutler is a lightweight, Docker‑compatible engine. It boots a minimal Linux VM through the Windows Host Compute Service, runs dockerd inside it, and lets the stock docker CLI talk to it. Windows 11 Home, Pro, Enterprise · x64 · MSI or zip · Apache-2.0 hyperbutler against Docker Desktop 4.97 (WSL 2), on one laptop, each with its default settings. Shorter bars are better. Docker Desktop varied over the first 6 minutes; the faded part of its bar is that range. The faded part is the WSL download, needed if WSL is missing. Measured on one laptop (Windows 11 Home, Core Ultra 7 155H, 32 GB), one engine at a time, same script. Docker Desktop’s Resource Saver…from hyperbutler.dev

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