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BuildKit

No phone app

8.3No. 1 of 32
in Container Build Tools
  • Recognised40% of the score100
  • Phone app26% of the score0
  • Documented20% of the score100
  • Free plan14% of the score100
Free plan
Yes
Runs on
api, Linux, Mac, self-hosted, Windows
Visit site Alternatives

Summary

BuildKit converts source code into build artifacts and provides tools to define and run builds. Its architecture consists of the buildkitd daemon and buildctl client, with LLB—a binary format for process dependency graphs—used to describe builds. Build definitions can use Dockerfiles and other LLB-compatible frontends. BuildKit supports concurrent dependency resolution, instruction caching, cache import and export, nested build jobs, multiple output formats, and automatic garbage collection. Builds can run without root privileges, and workers can use OCI (runc) or containerd backends. Results can be exported as images, local directories, tarballs, Docker tarballs, or OCI tarballs. The daemon provides a gRPC API over a Unix socket by default and can also use TCP sockets. Binaries are available for Linux, macOS, and Windows. One macOS caveat is that the unofficial Homebrew formula omits buildkitd; Lima in a Linux virtual machine is offered as one way to run it. The project uses the Apache-2.0 license.

Who it is for

BuildKit suits developers and teams who need a build toolkit with cache controls, multiple output formats, and rootless execution. It is available for Linux, macOS, and Windows.

What is good

  • Concurrent dependency resolution
  • Supports cache import and export
  • Can run builds without root privileges
  • Exports images, directories, and tarballs

What to know first

  • Unofficial Homebrew formula omits buildkitd
  • GitHub Actions, S3, and Azure Blob cache options are experimental

Verdict

BuildKit offers configurable build definitions, caching, and a range of output formats. macOS users relying on the unofficial Homebrew formula should note that it does not include the daemon.

BuildKit plans and pricing

All plans
BuildKit (Apache License 2.0) Free perpetual · worldwide · non-exclusive · no-charge · royalty-free github.com · 30 Sept 2026

Compared on container build tools

Free plan
Yesgithub.com

Facts

Purpose
BuildKit converts source code into build artifacts efficiently and repeatably.github.com · 30 Sept 2026
Build features
Features include concurrent dependency resolution, instruction caching, cache import and export, multiple output formats, and automatic garbage collection.github.com · 30 Sept 2026
Extensible builds
BuildKit uses frontends to convert build definitions into LLB, and supports Dockerfiles and other LLB languages.github.com · 30 Sept 2026
Execution
BuildKit supports execution without root privileges.github.com · 30 Sept 2026
Workers
The daemon supports OCI (runc) and containerd worker backends.github.com · 30 Sept 2026
Integrations
The repository lists Moby and Docker, Tekton Pipelines, Docker buildx, Gitpod, Dagger, and other projects as BuildKit users.github.com · 30 Sept 2026
Cache backends
Cache exporters include inline, registry, local directory, and GitHub Actions cache; the README marks GitHub Actions, S3, and Azure Blob cache options experimental in its contents list.github.com · 30 Sept 2026
Outputs
Build results can be exported as images, local directories, tarballs, Docker tarballs, or OCI tarballs.github.com · 30 Sept 2026
Platforms
The buildctl client is available for Linux, macOS, and Windows, while buildkitd is available for Linux and Windows.github.com · 30 Sept 2026
macOS limitation
The README says the unofficial Homebrew formula for macOS does not include the buildkitd daemon and gives Lima in a Linux VM as an example way to run it.github.com · 30 Sept 2026
API
The daemon listens on a gRPC API at /run/buildkit/buildkitd.sock by default and can also use TCP sockets.github.com · 30 Sept 2026
Support
The README directs users to the #buildkit channel on Docker Community Slack.github.com · 30 Sept 2026
Docker availability
The README says Docker Engine 23.0 and later use Buildx and BuildKit by default for docker build.github.com · 30 Sept 2026
License
The repository identifies its license as Apache-2.0.github.com · 30 Sept 2026
Architecture
BuildKit is composed of the buildkitd daemon and the buildctl client.github.com · 30 Sept 2026
Binaries
The latest BuildKit binaries are available for Linux, macOS, and Windows.github.com · 30 Sept 2026
Adopters
The project lists Moby and Docker, img, OpenFaaS Cloud, Tekton Pipelines, Docker buildx, Gitpod, Dagger, Depot, and other projects as users.github.com · 30 Sept 2026
LLB
BuildKit builds use a binary intermediate format called LLB for defining process dependency graphs, and LLB is concurrently executable, efficiently cacheable, and vendor-neutral.github.com · 30 Sept 2026
Security model
BuildKit describes itself as secure by default and usable with untrusted sources.github.com · 30 Sept 2026
Security reporting
Security issues should be reported privately to [email protected], and the project currently does not offer a paid security bounty program.github.com · 30 Sept 2026
Latest release
The repository’s releases page lists v0.33.1 as the latest release dated September 30, 2026.github.com · 30 Sept 2026

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