# Docker Engine vs NodeBB

> Two self-hosted projects, compared on the numbers selfhost.directory tracks live: score, popularity, release cadence and setup effort.

| | Docker Engine | NodeBB |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 80/100 ✓ | 73/100 |
| Rank in category | #1 of 11 in Container Orchestration | #4 of 69 in Social Networks & Forums |
| GitHub stars | 72 222 ✓ | 15 243 |
| Stars, last 30 days | +89 ✓ | +18 |
| Stable releases, 12 months | 17 | 31 ✓ |
| Latest release | docker-v29.9.2 · 20 Oct 2026 | v4.16.5 · 28 Oct 2026 ✓ |
| Setup | Advanced | Moderate ✓ |
| Official Docker image | No | Yes ✓ |
| License | Apache-2.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Main language | Go | JavaScript |

## Which one should you pick?

Docker Engine scores 80/100 against 73/100 for NodeBB, so it is the safer default.

NodeBB ships more often: 31 stable releases in the past year, against 17 for Docker Engine.

If you want the quickest setup, NodeBB is easier to run; Docker Engine needs more configuration.

Docker Engine is growing faster right now (+89 stars in 30 days).

## Details

- [Docker Engine](https://selfhost.directory/project/docker-engine) (markdown: https://selfhost.directory/project/docker-engine.md)
- [NodeBB](https://selfhost.directory/project/nodebb) (markdown: https://selfhost.directory/project/nodebb.md)

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Source: https://selfhost.directory/compare/docker-engine-vs-nodebb