Docker and CNCF Partnering to Power the Future of Open Source

At Docker, open source is not just something we support; it’s a core part of our culture. It’s part

At Docker, open source is not just something we support; it’s a core part of our culture. It’s part of our DNA. From foundational projects like Docker Compose (35.5k stars, 5.4k forks) and Moby (69.8k stars, 18.8k forks) to our continued code contributions, we remain committed to strengthening the open-source ecosystem. Today, we are announcing a new milestone in that journey: an official partnership between Docker and the Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF). This partnership brings more than just resources for open-source projects. It also reflects the CNCF’s recognition of Docker as the leading distribution platform for containerized software and as a trusted partner in modern software supply chain security. Michael Donovan VP Products, Docker This partnership reflects CNCF’s support of Docker as an industry leader and a strategic partner, trusted to deliver the scale, visibility, and security that today’s cloud-native ecosystem demands. Docker Hub is the most widely used container registry in the world, serving over 22 billion image downloads per month and hosting more than 14 million images. For CNCF projects, using Docker is a natural choice, offering a trusted, reliable distribution platform with unmatched reach and adoption across the developer community. Chris Aniszczyk CTO, CNCF For Docker, this partnership is a reinforcement of our commitment to the open source community.  We are also excited by the opportunity to deepen collaboration with the maintainers and developers building the future of cloud-native software. For maintainers, it’s an opportunity to gain access to premium infrastructure and support tailored to the needs of open-source projects. During the following days, all CNCF projects will have direct access to a dedicated bundle of Docker services through the Docker Sponsored Open Source (DSOS) program. Some of the key benefits of the program are: These benefits help you scale your project, grow your community, and ensure reliable access for your users. James Spurin Docker Captain & CNCF Ambassador As part of this collaboration, Docker will be listed as an official service provider on the CNCF . This showcasing enhances the discoverability of Docker’s tools and services for CNCF maintainers, reinforcing Docker’s role as a trusted infrastructure partner. For projects, it means easier access to vetted, high-impact resources already recognized and recommended by the CNCF community. CNCF projects now have unlimited access to , our image analysis and policy evaluation tool. Scout is a critical security layer aligned with modern supply chain practices, helping projects detect vulnerabilities, enforce policies, and maintain healthy, secure containers. CNCF projects can streamline their development pipelines with Docker autobuilds, enabling automated image creation directly from source code. All participating projects receive a badge on Docker Hub, increasing trust and visibility among users. DSOS members benefit from unrestricted public image pulls, ensuring reliable access for users and reducing friction for project adoption. Access to pull data and adoption metrics provides deeper visibility into community engagement and image usage trends. DSOS projects receive priority support through Docker’s open-source outreach channels. Security and trust are foundational to sustainable open source. Docker’s continued investment in secure tooling, developer experience, and supply chain integrity reflects our long-term commitment to supporting the infrastructure that open-source projects and their users rely on. Through tools like , now available to all CNCF projects, Docker is helping maintainers adopt secure development practices in a way that integrates naturally into their existing workflows. Also the recent launch of , curated, security-enhanced base images, has drawn intense interest from both the open-source community and enterprise users.  By continuing to invest in security, reliability, and open collaboration, Docker aims to help the ecosystem move forward with confidence. This partnership with CNCF is more than a program expansion. It is a signal that Docker Hub is the preferred distribution platform for the projects that matter most in the cloud-native ecosystem. It enables us to collaborate more deeply with maintainers, deliver better tools, and ensure open-source infrastructure is built on a strong, secure foundation. If you’re a CNCF maintainer, now is the time to make sure your project is fully supported. In the following days, your project will feature the DSOS badge on Docker Hub. If not, contact the CNCF to get started. In case you don’t want to become part of the DSOS program, you can also use the same method of contact. We’re proud to support the projects powering the modern internet, and we’re just getting started.