# firecracker-microvm/firecracker

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32,540 stars · 2,250 forks · Rust · apache-2.0

## Links

- GitHub: https://github.com/firecracker-microvm/firecracker
- Homepage: http://firecracker-microvm.io
- awesome-repositories: https://awesome-repositories.com/repository/firecracker-microvm-firecracker.md

## Topics

`containers` `minimalist` `open-source` `oversubscription` `rust` `sandbox` `serverless` `virtual-machine` `virtualization`

## Description

Firecracker is a virtual machine monitor that leverages hardware-assisted virtualization to create and manage isolated execution environments. It functions as a lightweight runtime designed to launch virtual machines with minimal memory overhead and near-instantaneous startup times, providing the security of traditional hardware virtualization with the efficiency of containerized workloads.

The project distinguishes itself through a security-focused architecture that enforces strict process boundaries using system-level barriers and restricted user privileges. It minimizes the attack surface by implementing a minimalist device model, which includes only the essential virtualized hardware required for booting. Management of the virtual machine lifecycle and hardware configuration is handled through a synchronous network-based control plane, allowing for precise runtime adjustments to CPU, memory, and device attachments.

The system supports high-performance communication between the guest operating system and host resources through standardized device emulation. It is designed for multi-tenant infrastructure, enabling the secure execution of concurrent workloads on shared physical hardware. The software is distributed as a single statically linked binary to simplify deployment across diverse host environments.

## Tags

### Operating Systems & Systems Programming

- [Hypervisors](https://awesome-repositories.com/f/operating-systems-systems-programming/virtualization-emulation/hypervisors.md) — Creates and manages isolated virtual machine environments by leveraging hardware-assisted virtualization.
- [MicroVM Runtimes](https://awesome-repositories.com/f/operating-systems-systems-programming/virtualization-emulation/microvm-runtimes.md) — Executes isolated virtual machines that combine hardware-level security with rapid startup times. ([source](https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/gh/firecracker-microvm/firecracker@main/README.md))
- [Virtualization Platforms](https://awesome-repositories.com/f/operating-systems-systems-programming/virtualization-emulation/virtualization-platforms.md) — Deploys minimal virtual machines that offer hardware-level security with container-like efficiency.
- [Sandboxing & Isolation](https://awesome-repositories.com/f/operating-systems-systems-programming/virtualization-emulation/sandboxing-isolation.md) — Enforces strict security boundaries using Linux namespaces and cgroups to isolate virtual machine processes.
- [Virtual Device Drivers](https://awesome-repositories.com/f/operating-systems-systems-programming/virtualization-emulation/virtual-device-drivers.md) — Provides high-performance virtualized hardware drivers for efficient communication between guest and host.
- [Hardware Emulators](https://awesome-repositories.com/f/operating-systems-systems-programming/virtualization-emulation/hardware-emulators.md) — Reduces the attack surface by implementing only the essential virtualized hardware devices required for booting.

### Security & Cryptography

- [Execution Isolation Strategies](https://awesome-repositories.com/f/security-cryptography/execution-isolation-strategies.md) — Isolates virtual machine processes using system-level barriers to prevent unauthorized access. ([source](https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/gh/firecracker-microvm/firecracker@main/README.md))
- [Multi-Tenant Isolation](https://awesome-repositories.com/f/security-cryptography/multi-tenant-isolation.md) — Provides strong hardware-level isolation between different users running on the same physical server.
- [Secure Isolation Layers](https://awesome-repositories.com/f/security-cryptography/secure-isolation-layers.md) — Enforces strict process boundaries and restricted system access to ensure separation between execution environments.

### DevOps & Infrastructure

- [Control Plane APIs](https://awesome-repositories.com/f/devops-infrastructure/control-plane-apis.md) — Manages virtual machine lifecycles and hardware configurations through a synchronous REST API.
- [Serverless Runtimes](https://awesome-repositories.com/f/devops-infrastructure/serverless-runtimes.md) — Runs short-lived code snippets in isolated environments that start and stop instantly.
- [Virtual Machine Lifecycle Management](https://awesome-repositories.com/f/devops-infrastructure/virtual-machine-lifecycle-management.md) — Manages virtual machine hardware settings and operational states through a network interface. ([source](https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/gh/firecracker-microvm/firecracker@main/README.md))
- [Virtual Hardware Interfaces](https://awesome-repositories.com/f/devops-infrastructure/virtual-hardware-interfaces.md) — Exposes a network-based configuration surface for managing virtual hardware resources.
- [Cloud Native Compute Platforms](https://awesome-repositories.com/f/devops-infrastructure/cloud-native-compute-platforms.md) — Provides rapid provisioning of isolated environments to handle fluctuating traffic demands.