"Docker Desktop" uses a VM for container execution on
all supported OSes - Windows, macOS and Linux - default installs are not running "docker" natively at your local CLI if you are using "Docker Desktop" to run docker, even on Linux.
> https://www.docker.com/blog/the-magic-behind-the-scenes-of-d...
> https://docs.docker.com/desktop/install/linux-install/
> https://docs.docker.com/desktop/faqs/linuxfaqs/#what-is-the-...
"Docker Desktop on Linux runs a Virtual Machine (VM) so creates and uses a custom docker context desktop-linux on startup." I had previously assumed it would be native on Linux, but apparently not. To be clear, this only applies when talking about "Docker Desktop" installations - not the same thing as "docker" etc etc.
I also think the performance is pretty bad, and I've used it on all three OSes at one time or another. I simply never install "Docker Desktop" on Linux typically anyway - it adds so little value over a basic native local docker install there.
The only thing I think "Docker Desktop" is really great at is creating FUD regarding using the alternatives or even plain ole free "docker", but that is probably its primary means of generating revenue for the company - I've seen docker desktop licences get deployed everywhere recently, regardless of the merits. So many users I encounter don't even understand the distinction now between docker/docker-desktop, or that there is one.