[Aaron2222]

> i can't even just install and run the docker CLI--docker on Mac requires Desktop and commercial use of Desktop requires a license.

That's not on Apple. Docker needs the Linux kernel (for Linux containers), so it's no different to needing something like Docker Desktop to use Docker on Windows. Yeah, Docker changed the license on Docker Desktop, but there's plenty of alternatives (Podman Desktop, Rancher Desktop, Colima, Apple's own container tool, or just running a Linux VM in Lima).

[yaris]

(I may be wrong here but) under the hood Docker on macOS runs a small Linux VM where all containers live, exactly because containers are basically Linux namespaces on steroids so not portable 1:1 to anywhere.

[queenkjuul]

I'm not blaming Apple for it, but it makes me dislike their platform more regardless