Comparison

FlyEnv vs Docker Native services or containerized environments?

FlyEnv runs development runtimes and services natively on your machine. Docker packages applications and dependencies into containers. Both can build complete local environments, but they optimize for different goals.

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✓ macOS✓ Windows✓ Linux✓ Free and open source

Docker

Containerized stack

Host OS

↓

Docker

Nginx

PHP

MySQL

Redis

Images, containers, networks and volumes defined as code.

FlyEnv

Native services on the host OS

Host OS

Nginx

PHP

MySQL

Redis

Runtimes and services run directly as native processes.

Same Laravel project, two models

Same application, different execution model.

Docker

Containerized stack defined in compose.yaml

Host OS

↓

Docker

Nginx container

PHP container

MySQL container

Redis container

network: app-net

volumes: db-data, redis-data

▤compose.yaml

Containerized stack defined in compose.yaml.

FlyEnv

Native services on the host OS

Host OS

Nginxnative

PHPnative

MySQLnative

Redisnative

Project filesnormal filesystem

Native services on the host OS.

Three key differences

The tools share a goal — a working environment — but take different paths to get there.

Native processes vs containers

FlyEnv runs PHP, MySQL, Redis, and Nginx directly as native host services. Docker organizes the same pieces as images, containers, networks, and volumes — with strong isolation between them and the host.

Local simplicity vs environment portability

FlyEnv offers a faster mental model for local development — no Dockerfile or Compose file is required for ordinary local services. Docker's environment definition travels with the project and can align development with CI, staging, and production.

GUI-managed services vs infrastructure-as-code

FlyEnv — pick a version in the GUI, start the service, create a site. Docker — define services in compose.yaml and start the whole stack with one command.

What this looks like in daily development

The same stack, experienced through two different workflows.

Native service management

FlyEnv services are installed, started, and stopped from the desktop app — versions, ports, and configuration included.

services:

app: # image, ports, volumes

db: # image, environment

redis: # image, networks

Containerized service definition

Docker services are declared as images, ports, volumes, and networks in YAML — a precise, version-controlled definition of the environment.

compose.yaml↓

Development→CI→Staging→Production

Development/production parity

Docker's strength: the same definitions can run in CI, staging, and production. FlyEnv optimizes for the local machine instead.

Feature comparison

A comparison of models, not feature counts — both sides can build a complete local environment.

Capability	Docker / Docker Compose	FlyEnv
Execution model	Containers	Native host processes
Environment definition	Dockerfile / Compose YAML	GUI and project configuration
Isolation	Strong container isolation	Host-level services
Production portability	Strong	Not the primary goal
CI/CD portability	Strong	Limited / not primary
Local domains / HTTPS	Configure via stack or proxy	Built-in local site workflow
Runtime versions	Container image tags	Managed local versions
Database services	Container images	Managed native modules
Networking	Docker networks	Host networking
Volumes	Docker volumes / bind mounts	Native filesystem
Project startup	docker compose up	UI and Startup Groups
Resource overhead	Docker runtime or VM depending on OS	Native processes
GUI management	Docker Desktop and tools	FlyEnv
Best suited for	Portable, reproducible container environments	Native local development

A typical Laravel project, two ways

A side-by-side look at the same kind of work.

With Docker

With FlyEnv

With Docker

Write or select Dockerfiles and images

With FlyEnv

Select the PHP version

With Docker

Create compose.yaml

With FlyEnv

Create a local site

With Docker

Configure ports

With FlyEnv

Start the database and cache

With Docker

Configure volumes

With FlyEnv

Enable HTTPS

With Docker

Configure networks

With FlyEnv

Start the project services

With Docker

Start with docker compose up

With FlyEnv

Open the site and start developing

Docker's additional configuration is also what makes the environment portable and reproducible across machines and deployment stages.

Which one should you choose?

Both tools can be useful; the right choice depends on your workflow.

Choose Docker if

✓Production parity matters.
✓Your team already deploys containers.
✓You need strong environment isolation.
✓You need reproducible CI, staging and dev environments.
✓Your project already includes a Dockerfile or compose.yaml.

Choose FlyEnv if

✓You mainly need a fast native local development environment.
✓You don't need container isolation.
✓You want to manage runtimes and services through a desktop UI.
✓You prefer native filesystem and network performance with direct local tooling.
✓You work on projects that do not already require containers.

Consider both if

✓Use FlyEnv for native day-to-day development, while keeping Docker for CI, deployment, integration tests, or projects that require container parity.
✓You develop natively but the team standardizes on containers for delivery.
✓Different projects on the same machine have different requirements.

FlyEnv and Docker are not mutually exclusive — many teams use native services locally and containers everywhere else.

Frequently asked questions

Is FlyEnv a replacement for Docker?

No. FlyEnv manages native local services; Docker packages apps into containers. They solve different problems and can be used together.

When should I use Docker instead of FlyEnv?

When production parity, isolation, or reproducible CI/staging environments matter, or when the project already ships a compose.yaml.

When is FlyEnv the better fit?

When you want a fast native local environment with managed runtimes, local domains and HTTPS, without writing Dockerfiles or Compose files.

Can I use FlyEnv and Docker together?

Yes — a common setup is FlyEnv for day-to-day native development and Docker for CI, integration tests, or projects that require container parity. Avoid port conflicts between the two.

Does FlyEnv use containers internally?

No. FlyEnv runs runtimes and services as native host processes on macOS, Windows and Linux.

Does Docker provide local domains and HTTPS automatically?

Not out of the box. You typically add a reverse proxy (Traefik, nginx-proxy) and certificates (mkcert or a CA) yourself; FlyEnv includes a built-in local site workflow for domains and HTTPS.

Which is easier for a team to standardize on?

If the team deploys containers, Docker's compose.yaml is the strongest shared contract. For teams that develop natively on macOS, Windows and Linux, FlyEnv gives everyone the same desktop workflow.

Does FlyEnv work with projects that already have a compose.yaml?

Yes — the compose file stays untouched; you can still run the app's runtime and services natively in FlyEnv, or just keep using Docker for that project.

Try native local development with FlyEnv

Create a local site, select the runtimes and services it needs, and start working — no containers required.

Download FlyEnv