Comparison
compose vs kratos
Verdict
Pick compose if a tool for defining and orchestrating multi-container applications with Docker using Compose files; pick kratos if kratos is a Go microservices framework designed for cloud-native applications that supports both gRPC and HTTP protocols.
Markdown twin · compose alternatives · kratos alternatives
GraphCanon updated 1w
Trust & integrity
| Signal | compose | kratos |
|---|---|---|
| Maintenance | Very active (0d since push) As of 1w · github_public_v1 | Active (24d since push) As of 4w · github_public_v1 |
| Provenance | Not a fork · Organization account As of 1w · github_public_v1 | Not a fork · Organization account As of 4w · github_public_v1 |
| OSV dependency advisories | Published findings As of 1mo · osv@v1 | No lockfile (source not queried) As of 1mo · osv@v1 |
| deps.dev advisories | Not queried deps.dev@v1 | Not queried deps.dev@v1 |
| OpenSSF Scorecard | Not queried openssf-scorecard@v1 | Not queried openssf-scorecard@v1 |
Tagline
- compose
- Define and run multi-container applications with Docker
- kratos
- Go microservices framework for cloud-native applications
Stars
- compose
- 38k
- kratos
- 26k
Forks
- compose
- 5.8k
- kratos
- 4.2k
Open issues
- compose
- 105
- kratos
- 86
Language
- compose
- Go
- kratos
- Go
Adopt for
- compose
- A tool for defining and orchestrating multi-container applications with Docker using Compose files.
- kratos
- Kratos is a Go microservices framework designed for cloud-native applications that supports both gRPC and HTTP protocols.
Persona
- compose
- -
- kratos
- -
Runtime
- compose
- -
- kratos
- -
License
- compose
- Apache-2.0
- kratos
- MIT
Last pushed
- compose
- Aug 10, 2026
- kratos
- Jul 1, 2026
Categories
- compose
- Developer Tools
- kratos
- Developer Tools
Trust and health
Maintenance
- compose
- Very active (96%)
- kratos
- Active (82%)
Days since push
- compose
- 0d
- kratos
- 24d
Open issues (now)
- compose
- 105
- kratos
- 86
OSV dependency advisories
- compose
- Published findings
- kratos
- No lockfile (source not queried)
Full report
- compose
- Trust report
- kratos
- Trust report
Choose compose if…
- License: compose is Apache-2.0, kratos is MIT.
- Tags unique to compose: containerization, docker-compose, orchestration.
- compose ships Docker support for self-hosted deployment.
- When your project involves running multiple connected services or microservices, as Docker Compose streamlines the orchestration of these with Docker.
When NOT to use compose
- When your application orchestration needs extend beyond basic services definition and coordination provided by Compose files.
- If you are specifically targeting a legacy setup or need tools that were historically paired with Docker Swarm, as some recent enhancements may lack full compatibility.
- For users who require advanced orchestration features like horizontal scaling, service discovery, or load balancing outside of the capabilities offered by simple docker compose setups.
Choose kratos if…
- License: kratos is MIT, compose is Apache-2.0.
- Tags unique to kratos: ai, architecture, cloud-native, framework.
- When you need to develop efficient and scalable microservice architectures specifically in the Go programming language, as Kratos offers dedicated support to optimize go-based services.
When NOT to use kratos
- If your project does not require Go or you prefer frameworks supporting a wider range of languages, as Kratos is specialized in the Go ecosystem and may introduce language-specific limitations.
- In scenarios where lightweight microservices without extensive framework overhead are preferred, given that Kratos includes features like gRPC out of the box which might add unnecessary complexity.
Explore
Sources
Every stat on this page traces to a dated GitHub sync, license file, enrichment field, or trust scan.
- GitHub stars (docker/compose) · observed Aug 11, 2026
- GitHub forks (docker/compose) · observed Aug 11, 2026
- Last push (docker/compose) · observed Aug 10, 2026
- License file (Apache-2.0) · observed Aug 11, 2026
- Decision facts (enrichment) · observed Jul 17, 2026
- Trust scan (lockfile / OSV) · observed Jul 15, 2026
- GitHub stars (go-kratos/kratos) · observed Jul 26, 2026
- GitHub forks (go-kratos/kratos) · observed Jul 26, 2026
- Last push (go-kratos/kratos) · observed Jul 1, 2026
- License file (MIT) · observed Jul 26, 2026
- Decision facts (enrichment) · observed Jul 17, 2026
- Trust scan (lockfile / OSV) · observed Jul 11, 2026
GitHub stars on cards: compose 38k · kratos 26k (synced Aug 11, 2026).
Common questions
- What is the difference between compose and kratos?
- compose: Define and run multi-container applications with Docker. kratos: Go microservices framework for cloud-native applications. See the comparison table for live GitHub stats and shared categories.
- When should I choose compose over kratos?
- Choose compose over kratos when License: compose is Apache-2.0, kratos is MIT; Tags unique to compose: containerization, docker-compose, orchestration; compose ships Docker support for self-hosted deployment; When your project involves running multiple connected services or microservices, as Docker Compose streamlines the orchestration of these with Docker.
- When should I choose kratos over compose?
- Choose kratos over compose when License: kratos is MIT, compose is Apache-2.0; Tags unique to kratos: ai, architecture, cloud-native, framework; When you need to develop efficient and scalable microservice architectures specifically in the Go programming language, as Kratos offers dedicated support to optimize go-based services.
- When should I avoid compose?
- When your application orchestration needs extend beyond basic services definition and coordination provided by Compose files. If you are specifically targeting a legacy setup or need tools that were historically paired with Docker Swarm, as some recent enhancements may lack full compatibility. For users who require advanced orchestration features like horizontal scaling, service discovery, or load balancing outside of the capabilities offered by simple docker compose setups.
- When should I avoid kratos?
- If your project does not require Go or you prefer frameworks supporting a wider range of languages, as Kratos is specialized in the Go ecosystem and may introduce language-specific limitations. In scenarios where lightweight microservices without extensive framework overhead are preferred, given that Kratos includes features like gRPC out of the box which might add unnecessary complexity.
- Is compose or kratos more popular on GitHub?
- compose has more GitHub stars (38,039 vs 25,816). Stars measure visibility, not whether either tool fits your constraints.
- Are compose and kratos open source?
- Yes - both are open-source projects on GitHub (compose: Apache-2.0, kratos: MIT).
- Where can I find alternatives to compose or kratos?
- GraphCanon lists graph-backed alternatives at compose alternatives and kratos alternatives (compose markdown twin, kratos markdown twin), ranked by typed relationship edges rather than popularity votes.
- Is there a machine-readable version of this comparison?
- Yes. The markdown twin at this comparison mirrors this page for agents and LLM crawlers, with the same stats table and FAQ answers.
- Which is better maintained, compose or kratos?
- compose: Very active. kratos: Active. Compare maintenance labels, days since push, and release cadence in the trust section below - stars alone do not measure maintenance.
- Where are the full trust reports for compose and kratos?
- GraphCanon publishes per-repo trust reports with dated maintenance, provenance, and scan summaries: compose trust report; kratos trust report.