When Docker altered Docker Desktop licensing in 2021, teams received emails from procurement to stop using it or buy seats. Switching a Mac to Lima after such emails, the command line remains nearly unchanged. Containers run, ports forward, and bind mounts appear inside the container. That leaves a question: what is doing the work now? Docker Desktop feels like one thing. Lima seems like tangled parts. This article explains what Lima is, how it runs Linux on your Mac, and its relation to tools like nerdctl , Colima, and Rancher Desktop.