Project study / Platforms
Published
Harpoon
A lightweight macOS environment for running Docker-compatible Linux workloads.
Harpoon focuses on the macOS-to-Linux boundary while leaving container behavior to Docker Engine inside the guest.
Runtime boundary / host to guest
- Docker CLI
- Host API / socket
- macOS runtime
- Virtualization.framework
- Linux VM
- Docker Engine
01 / Constraint and response
Developers want a Docker-compatible workflow on macOS without making Docker Desktop the required virtualization layer.
Approach
Harpoon runs a small Linux environment and bridges the host workflow to the Docker Engine inside it.
System boundary
The macOS host manages the virtualized Linux guest and its socket boundary; the guest Docker Engine remains authoritative for containers.
02 / Architecture notes
Host and Guest Boundary
Harpoon owns VM lifecycle and host integration; Docker Engine owns container resources inside Linux.
- 01
The project keeps the host-to-guest interface explicit and relies on the standard Docker Engine inside the VM.
03 / Current state
What exists, and what follows.
Published
September 2026
Compatibility improves when a replacement runtime preserves familiar client interfaces and clear ownership boundaries.
Next direction
- Continue refining runtime lifecycle, networking, and diagnostics.