* [Topics](/en/topics "Topics") * [Open source](/en/topics/open-source "Open source") * What is rkt? What is rkt? ============ Published June 23, 2021•*1*-minute read Copy URL Jump to section --------------- OverviewBenefits of rktHistory of rkt Overview -------- rkt is an application container engine developed for modern production cloud-native environments. It features a pod-native approach, a pluggable execution environment, and a well-defined surface area that makes it ideal for integration with other systems. The core execution unit of rkt is the pod, a collection of one or more applications executing in a shared context (rkt's pods are synonymous with the concept in the Kubernetes orchestration system). rkt allows users to apply different configurations (like isolation parameters) at both pod-level and at the more granular per-application level. rkt's architecture means that each pod executes directly in the classic Unix process model (i.e. there is no central daemon), in a self-contained, isolated environment. rkt implements a modern, open, standard container format, the App Container (appc) spec, but can also execute other container images, like those created with [Docker](/en/topics/containers/what-is-docker). Benefits of rkt --------------- **Composable** Following the unix tools philosophy, rkt is a single binary that integrates with init systems, scripts, and complex devops pipelines. Containers take their correct place in the PID hierarchy and can be managed with standard utilities. **Customizable isolation** Use [containers](/en/topics/containers/whats-a-linux-container) as a standard, more secure deployment object, and choose the appropriate level of isolation using rkt’s pluggable runtime architecture, known as stages. **Pods built-in** The atomic unit in rkt is the pod, a group of related containers that share resources. This allows for easy stacking of related components, and maps directly to cluster management concepts. [View in GitHub](https://github.com/rkt/rkt/) Recommended for you Ansible for Windows Automation Hands-on Virtual Workshop - Only for Australia and New Zealand time zone ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [Watch the webinar](https://www.redhat.com/en/events/webinar/awa-virtual-workshop-June27?percmp=RHCTG0250000455235) History of rkt -------------- Since its introduction by [CoreOS](/en/technologies/cloud-computing/openshift/what-was-coreos) in December 2014, the rkt project has greatly matured and is widely used. It is available for most major [Linux®](/en/topics/linux/what-is-linux) distributions and every rkt release builds self-contained rpm/deb packages that users can install. These packages are also available as part of the [Kubernetes](/en/topics/containers/what-is-kubernetes) repository to enable testing of the rkt + Kubernetes integration. rkt also plays a central role in how Google Container Image and CoreOS Container Linux run Kubernetes. Red Hat has donated the project to the Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF). **The Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF) is now home to rkt.** [Read the announcement](https://www.cncf.io/announcements/2017/03/29/cloud-native-computing-foundation-becomes-home-pod-native-container-engine-project-rkt/) Recommended for you E-book Financial services institutions improve business outcomes with automation ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform helped 7 top financial services organizations achieve operational excellence. Read the details in this e-book. [Read the e-book](https://www.redhat.com/en/engage/fsi-improve-business-outcomes-with-automation-ebook?percmp=RHCTG0250000455234) Recommended for you Red Hat Certified Specialist in Event-Driven Application Development exam ------------------------------------------------------------------------- basic skills required for building applications using event-driven architecture [View exam](https://www.redhat.com/en/services/training/red-hat-certified-specialist-event-driven-application-development-exam?percmp=RHCTG0250000455236) Keep reading ------------ ### What is InstructLab? InstructLab simplifies the process of customizing large language models with private data. [Read the article](/en/topics/ai/what-is-instructlab "article | what is instructlab?") ### What is Istio? Find out more about Istio, an open source service mesh that controls how microservices share data with one another. 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