But i can see ko being good alternative if you for some reason do not want to install docker on your computer but still be able to build docker containers.
Docker is a much bigger dependency than ko, involving a daemon and a socket you have to manage and secure. ko is a only a go program, and builds are straight-forward and lightning fast compared to Docker.
Importantly, ko also removes the need for a Dockerfile. Yes, as you point out a Dockerfile can be simple, but but the best part is no part. Dockerfile has plenty of foot guns and best practices to learn so if at the end of the day all you need is a go binary on a container ko will serve you much, much better.
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Docker is a much bigger dependency than ko, involving a daemon and a socket you have to manage and secure. ko is a only a go program, and builds are straight-forward and lightning fast compared to Docker.
Importantly, ko also removes the need for a Dockerfile. Yes, as you point out a Dockerfile can be simple, but but the best part is no part. Dockerfile has plenty of foot guns and best practices to learn so if at the end of the day all you need is a go binary on a container ko will serve you much, much better.