DevWorkspace Pro vs Docker Desktop

Docker Desktop and DevWorkspace Pro aren't really competitors. They work at different layers.

Docker Desktop runs your containers and shows you images, volumes and containers. DevWorkspace Pro shows you projects: the code, the Compose or DDEV services, GitHub, AI agents and security scans for each one. Most container users need a runtime such as Docker Desktop anyway, and DevWorkspace Pro sits on top of it.

Comparison table

"Not listed" means the feature does not appear on the official Docker pages as of the date of this page.

Containers versus projects

Docker Desktop bundles Docker Engine, the CLI, Build, Compose, Kubernetes and Docker Scout. Its dashboard covers containers, images, volumes, builds and logs. It also has AI features:

• Gordon, an AI agent for Docker tasks
• the MCP Toolkit and Catalog
• Model Runner for local LLMs

DevWorkspace Pro gives every project on your machine the terminal, files, Git, GitHub and AI sessions. Projects with a Compose file get extra runtime tools: the Services card starts, stops and restarts services and streams their logs. Projects can also run in DDEV, Laravel Sail or with native tools.

What Docker Desktop needs on Windows

Docker Desktop on Windows runs Linux containers through a WSL 2 backend, which is the default, or through Hyper-V. Docker's install guide lists these requirements for both backends:

• Windows 10 64-bit (22H2, build 19045) or Windows 11 64-bit (23H2, build 22631) or later
• a 64-bit processor with Second Level Address Translation (SLAT)
• 8 GB of system RAM
• hardware virtualization turned on in BIOS/UEFI

The guide also notes that Windows Home and Education editions can only run Linux containers. A per-user install, the recommended mode, needs no administrator rights.

DevWorkspace Pro does not change any of this. It runs on top of whichever runtime you install.

What you need, and when

You need Docker Desktop (or another runtime) if:

• You run any container on macOS or Windows.
• You build images, use Kubernetes or scan images with Docker Scout.
• You want local LLMs through Model Runner, or MCP servers from the Docker catalog.

Adding DevWorkspace Pro helps if:

• You have many Compose, Sail or DDEV projects and want them in one list with their services.
• You want the code, the terminal, Git and GitHub Actions next to the services.
• You run Claude Code, Codex or OpenCode in many projects and want to resume sessions after a restart.
• You want dependency security scans for the packages in your lockfiles, and uptime monitoring for live sites.

Where Docker Desktop wins

• It is the runtime. Docker Desktop runs containers. DevWorkspace Pro does not.
• Full container control. Images, volumes, networks, builds and Kubernetes in one dashboard.
• Image security. Docker Scout scans container images, not only app dependencies.
• Local AI models. Model Runner serves LLMs with OpenAI- and Ollama-compatible APIs.
• Free for many users. Personal use and small businesses under the license limits pay nothing.

Running them together

1. Keep Docker Desktop as your container runtime.
2. Import your Compose project folders into DevWorkspace Pro. Any project with compose.yaml or docker-compose.yml gets the Services card.
3. Start and stop services and read their logs from the project page. The card reads docker compose config, so override files and profiles apply.
4. Use Docker Desktop for images, volumes and cleanup.

Is your company over the Docker Desktop license limits? DDEV supports other runtimes, for example OrbStack, Colima, Rancher Desktop and Docker CE, and DevWorkspace Pro works with whichever one DDEV uses.

Sources

• Docker Desktop overview: https://docs.docker.com/desktop/
• Docker Desktop on Windows (backends, system requirements, install modes): https://docs.docker.com/desktop/setup/install/windows-install/
• Docker Desktop license terms: https://docs.docker.com/subscription/desktop-license/
• Docker pricing: https://www.docker.com/pricing/
• Docker Desktop dashboard: https://docs.docker.com/desktop/use-desktop/
• Gordon: https://docs.docker.com/ai/gordon/
• MCP Catalog and Toolkit: https://docs.docker.com/ai/mcp-catalog-and-toolkit/
• Model Runner: https://docs.docker.com/ai/model-runner/
• Docker Scout: https://docs.docker.com/scout/
• DDEV container runtimes: https://docs.ddev.com/en/stable/users/install/docker-installation/
• DevWorkspace Pro Docker Compose docs: https://docs.devworkspacepro.com/docker-compose