LXC OCI vs Docker: Why LXC Might Become the “Easy Docker” of the Future

Container technology has evolved massively over the last decade, and two major approaches dominate the Linux ecosystem: Docker containers, which revolutionized application packaging, and LXC system containers, the original full-system container solution. With the arrival of OCI image support in LXC, the gap between these two technologies is shrinking fast.

For years, Docker was seen as the simpler, more standardized way to distribute applications, while LXC offered deeper isolation and full Linux environments. But as LXC gains support for OCI (Open Container Initiative) images, something interesting is happening:

LXC is becoming as easy to use as Docker—while still being more powerful.

In this comparison, we’ll break down the differences, the strengths of each, and why LXC may be the future “easy Docker” many users have been waiting for.

What Is the Core Difference Between LXC and Docker?

Docker = application containers

Designed to run one app, one process, or one microservice.

LXC = system containers

Designed to run a full Linux userspace with systemd, init, networking, shells, packages, etc.

In simple terms:

• Docker is a lightweight sandbox for apps
• LXC is a lightweight virtual machine without the hypervisor overhead

Both are “containers,” but they serve very different purposes—and now with OCI support, their ecosystems are converging.

LXC + OCI Support: The Missing Link Arrives

Traditionally, LXC used distro-specific templates. OCI images—standardized formats used by Docker and Podman—make container distribution portable and universal.

With OCI support, LXC can now:

• Pull images from Docker Hub, GitHub, Quay, etc.
• Build image pipelines similar to Docker
• Use familiar image tags like ubuntu:latest
• Deploy containers with one command

This dramatically simplifies LXC and brings it closer to Docker’s ease of use.