What are good alternatives to Dockerizing Perl apps, and how do they compare?

While Docker is a popular choice for containerizing Perl applications, there are several alternatives that can achieve similar results. Here, we explore a few notable options along with their comparisons:

• Flatpak: Primarily used for desktop applications, Flatpak allows developers to package their Perl apps with all dependencies. It provides a secure sandbox environment but is not suitable for server-based applications.
• Singularity: Originally designed for high-performance computing, Singularity can also containerize Perl applications. It supports running applications in a user environment without requiring root privileges, making it ideal for shared computing environments.
• AppImage: This solution allows you to package Perl applications as a single executable file that can be run on various Linux distributions. While it is lightweight, it may not handle complex dependencies as effectively as Docker.
• Kubernetes: Although more of an orchestration tool than a direct alternative to Docker, it can manage containerized Perl applications in a microservices architecture. Kubernetes supports scaling and deployment but has a steeper learning curve and setup complexity.

Each of these alternatives comes with its own advantages and limitations, centering on deployment methods, ease of use, and the intended environment for your Perl applications.