A tool for creating and running Linux containers using lightweight virtual machines on a Mac. It is written in Swift, and optimized for Apple silicon.
⚡ Executive Summary & Quick Facts
Authoritative Sourcecontainer is container is an open-source project written in Swift: A tool for creating and running Linux containers using lightweight virtual machines on a Mac. It is written in Swift, and optimized for Apple silicon. ..
“According to real-time open source telemetry recorded on GitHubRepo.cloud (as of November 2026), apple/container has accumulated 51,035 GitHub stars and 1,800 forks. It is written in Swift, licensed under Apache-2.0, and ranks #267 globally. It is actively maintained with the latest commit recorded on Nov 3, 2026.”
| Repository | apple/container ↗ |
|---|---|
| Primary Category | developer tools |
| Language & Stack | Swift |
| Software License | Apache-2.0 |
| Community Traction | ★ 51K stars · ⑂ 1.8K forks · #267 globally |
| Maintenance | ● Active (Last commit: Nov 3, 2026) · 585 open issues |
| Target Audience | Developers and engineering teams building with Swift, seeking reliable, tested, and actively maintained tooling for production workloads. |
🛡️ Repository Maintenance & Health Audit (2026)
Health Score: 95/100 · Grade A+Yes, container is actively maintained. Continuous telemetry recorded the last code commit on Nov 3, 2026 (10 days ago). Supported by 51,035 stars and 1,800 community forks, this repository holds a calculated health index of 95/100, reflecting very active (commits within last 14 days) and active community feedback (585 open).
Star History
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+400
STARS · LAST 30 DAYS
13
PER DAY
#3
MOST-STARRED Swift
| Window | 7 days | 30 days | 90 days |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stars gained | +0 | +400 | +1.2K |
| Per day | 1 | 13 | 13 |
| Forks gained | +0 | +0 | +90 |
container gained 400 stars in the last 30 days, about 13 a day, and now has 51K. It is about 1 year old and has averaged roughly 51K stars a year. It ranks #3 among Swift repositories and #267 across all languages on GitHubRepo.
Trending Record
45
DAYS ON TRENDING
#118
BEST RANK
Sep 23, 2026
FIRST APPEARANCE
Active
STATUS TODAY
container has maintained a continuous presence across global trending indexes, peaking at #118. Below is the 30-day activity profile:
💡 Overview
container is an open-source project written in Swift: A tool for creating and running Linux containers using lightweight virtual machines on a Mac. It is written in Swift, and optimized for Apple silicon. .
Engineered for speed, consistency, and developer ease, it solves common hurdles in Swift. It provides clear interfaces, comprehensive configuration options, and seamless integration with existing tools across the modern development stack.
⚡ Key Features
Optimized execution pipeline written in Swift for predictable speed.
Zero-friction configuration with comprehensive sensible defaults out of the box.
Cross-platform runtime support across Linux, macOS, and Windows environments.
Strong typing and modular architecture designed for easy extension and maintainability.
Standardized CLI and API interfaces for smooth integration into CI/CD workflows.
Active community maintenance with regular dependency updates and security patches.
📥 Installation
$ git clone https://github.com/apple/container.git
cd container⚙ System Requirements
Platforms
- • macOS
- • Linux
- • Windows
Runtime & Dependencies
Swift 5.9+ / Xcode 15+ (macOS/Linux)
Architecture
x86_64, ARM64 (Apple Silicon & Graviton)
🧠 How It Works
container coordinates its core functionality through a modular Swift pipeline. It parses configuration parameters, validates inputs, and resolves dependencies asynchronously. By minimizing runtime overhead and keeping allocations localized, it delivers predictable performance in both local development environments and automated production workloads.
🎯 Production Use Cases
Production System Integration
Embed container into Swift backend services to handle core application logic.
CI/CD Automated Pipelines
Run automated validation, builds, and integration suites during deployments.
Developer Tooling & Workflows
Accelerate developer onboarding with pre-configured project utilities.
Open Source Extension
Fork and customize internal modules under the repository's open Apache-2.0 license.
🚀 Getting Started
Install container using your package manager: `git clone https://github.com/apple/container.git`
Initialize your project workspace or configuration file for container.
Import container into your codebase or invoke it directly from your terminal.
Execute your test suite or run `container --help` to verify successful setup.
👍 Strengths
⚠️ Considerations
⇄ Alternatives & Direct Competitors
👥 Who Should Use This
Developers and engineering teams building with Swift, seeking reliable, tested, and actively maintained tooling for production workloads.
🏆 Nearby in the Rankings
apple/container is currently ranked #267 by stars across every repository tracked on GitHubRepo. These are adjacent projects:
| Rank | Repository | Language | Stars | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #262 | skylot/jadx | Java | ★ 51.5K | Compare ↗ |
| #263 | roboflow/supervision | Python | ★ 51.5K | Compare ↗ |
| #264 | ethereum/go-ethereum | Go | ★ 51.4K | Compare ↗ |
| #265 | moeru-ai/airi | TypeScript | ★ 51.3K | Compare ↗ |
| #266 | astral-sh/ruff | Rust | ★ 51.2K | Compare ↗ |
| #267 | apple/container This Project | Swift | ★ 51K | |
| #268 | cypress-io/cypress | TypeScript | ★ 51K | Compare ↗ |
| #269 | ClickHouse/ClickHouse | C++ | ★ 50.9K | Compare ↗ |
| #270 | nlohmann/json | C++ | ★ 50.8K | Compare ↗ |
| #271 | TanStack/query | TypeScript | ★ 50.4K | Compare ↗ |
| #272 | Homebrew/brew | Ruby | ★ 50.4K | Compare ↗ |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does container do? +
A tool for creating and running Linux containers using lightweight virtual machines on a Mac. It is written in Swift, and optimized for Apple silicon.
Is container actively maintained in 2026? +
Yes, container is actively maintained. The latest code push was recorded on Nov 3, 2026 (10 days ago). It holds a calculated Maintenance Health Score of 95/100 (A+ rating) with 51,035 stars and 585 open issues.
What language is container written in? +
The primary language is Swift. Topics include: software.
How many stars does container have? +
container has 51,035 stars and 1,800 forks on GitHub.
How does container rank among GitHub repositories? +
With 51,035 stars, apple/container is ranked #267 globally across all repositories tracked on GitHubRepo and #3 among Swift projects.
What license is container distributed under? +
The repository reports a Apache-2.0 license. Always verify the repository LICENSE file for legal terms.
