Lando and DDEV are both wrappers for docker containers that make it easy to set up a local development environment.
I have used Lando for a few years, but I am wondering what I may be missing.
Assuming they can be configured to do the same things, here is what I'm looking for:
- Clear, easy to follow documentation on how to do the majority of things I need.
- A helpful community to assist when I'm lost.
- Performance, including time to set up and system efficiency.
- Used by teammates and easy to onboard new devs.
Providers
Container service providers.
Options depend on OS.
*Docker gained popularity as a free tool, and later became a paid service for large companies. There are other free and open source alternatives available depending on platform and OS. Docker Engine (docker-ce) is now maintained by https://mobyproject.org/.
Windows can use Docker Engine inside WSL2 instead of Docker Desktop.
Sounds like Colima works on OSX, and Lima is for Linux might work.
Rancher works on OSX for DDEV, untested on others.
Podman doesn't work for either.
https://ddev.com/blog/docker-performance-2023/
https://ddev.com/blog/docker-providers/
https://aalonso.dev/blog/2024/how-to-use-docker-engine-without-docker-desktop-macos-colima
https://opensource.com/article/22/9/docker-desktop-colima
https://dev.to/sergej_brazdeikis/install-docker-on-mac-m1-without-docker-desktop-k6o
Lando
Only works with Docker.
https://docs.lando.dev/getting-started/requirements.html
Podman: https://github.com/lando/lando/issues/3238
Rancher/Colima: https://github.com/lando/lando/issues/3388
Linux
https://docs.lando.dev/install/linux.html
- Docker Engine
Windows/OSX
- Docker Desktop (Includes Docker Engine)
DDEV
Supports multiple providers.
https://ddev.readthedocs.io/en/stable/users/install/docker-installation/
OSX
https://ddev.com/blog/docker-providers/
- Orbstack "recommended" by DDEV for OSX ($8/mo).
- Docker Desktop (Free except for large companies).
- Lima (Free).
- Rancher (Free). "Slower startup".
- Colima (Free). "Unstable".
Podman: https://github.com/ddev/ddev/issues/2276
Installation
First, install the container provider, then lando/ddev.
Lando
Lando installer for Windows/OSX includes docker.
Linux/OSX: /bin/bash -c "$(curl -fsSL
https://get.lando.dev/setup-lando.sh)"
Windows: iex (irm 'https://get.lando.dev/setup-lando.ps1' -UseB)
Configuration
Both have multiple platform recipes to get started.
Here is a brief comparison of the drupal10 recipes.
- DDEV includes node by default.
- Lando can set xdebug: debug,develop to make it triggered by the browser. DDEV has a command to turn it on or off. Both can be configured either way.
- Multisite
- Lando proxy makes it easy.
https://docs.lando.dev/plugins
https://ddev.readthedocs.io/en/stable/users/quickstart/
Commands
Turn off all containers.
Lando: lando poweroff all
DDEV: ddev poweroff
DDEV
ddev composer create
- Runs composer create-project within container. I think this gets around not being able to create the project within the current directory.
Differences
Synced directories
Lando syncs the user's home directory by default.
DDEV only syncs the project directory, but addition directories can be specified in docker config.
https://www.drupalarchitect.info/tips/mount-additional-directories-ddev
Features
Lando proxy.
DDEV snapshot.
Documentation
Lando has an annoying bug with the search - if you click on an anchor link in the results the page fails to load. You can refresh it to fix.
Community
History
DDEV
Creator: https://randyfay.com/
20 blog posts in 2024.
Lando
Creator: https://github.com/pirog
1 blog post in 2024
19 releases in 2024 (for core plugin)