Dory

Dory is a local development system for Apple Silicon that manages Docker, Kubernetes, virtual machines, and sandboxed agent environments.

Dory coordinates container engines, virtual machines, and development sandboxes as a single, owned system on Apple Silicon. It operates as an open-source tool without accounts, telemetry, or required cloud connections. Developers use it to manage Docker workflows, local Kubernetes clusters, and isolated Linux virtual machines. Dory creates secure, policy-bound sandboxes for coding agents, ensuring they run with restricted file, network, and resource access. It supports modular, signed components that allow users to add capabilities like machine runtimes or desktop support as needed.

Dory at a glance

Best for: Software engineer
Runs on: macOS
Pricing: Free
Released: June 2026
Category: AI coding tool
Website: usedory.dev

Key features

Docker, Compose, and Buildx management
Local Kubernetes cluster support
Isolated Linux virtual machine runtime
Policy-bound agent sandboxes
Resource-aware memory and disk management
Versioned local tool contract via MCP
Automated migration from existing Docker environments
Self-contained lifecycle repair for individual system layers

Use it for

Running isolated coding agents in dedicated VMs
Developing with Docker and Kubernetes locally
Managing multiple Linux virtual machines for projects
Provisioning secure workspaces with explicit access boundaries

Alternatives to Dory

Lody — Run coding agents in parallel with isolated worktrees and live diff reviews.
Local Code Community — Runs local offline models and built-in tools securely inside an app sandbox.
ODS — Automates complex local AI infrastructure setups with one command.
oMLX — It uses paged SSD KV caching to reduce agent TTFT to under 5 seconds.
SiliconDevKit — Builds native Mac apps and games from text descriptions in about a minute.
OptiQ — Runs entirely on Apple Silicon without PyTorch or cloud dependence.
OpenCode — Works with 75+ model providers, local models, and existing subscriptions
Qoder — It features deep codebase awareness, autonomous coding agents, and cross-platform support.
cmux — It features vertical tabs, notification rings, and split panes for AI coding.
OpenSandbox — Provides isolated environments with multi-language SDKs and lifecycle management.
Kilo Code — Open-source agent with any model and no markup on inference
Thalia — Provides a native Mac environment for agentic coding with Meta's Muse Code CLI.

All Dory alternatives