DDEV v1.25.1 Adds Docker Buildx Validation Check

DDEV version 1.25.1 adds a validation check for Docker Buildx that may cause errors when developers run ddev start on systems without a compatible Buildx installation. The change was outlined in a blog post by DDEV maintainer Stas Zhuk and reflects a dependency introduced by Docker Compose rather than a configuration decision made by the DDEV project.

The validation ensures that Docker Buildx version 0.17.0 or later is available on the system. When the requirement is not met, users may see an error indicating that the Docker CLI plugin buildx cannot be found or that the installed version is outdated. The dependency originates from upstream changes in Docker Compose, where newer releases introduced the bake builder as the default build backend and later established a minimum Buildx version requirement.

Most developers will not need to take action because tools such as Docker Desktop, OrbStack, and Rancher Desktop already bundle Docker Buildx. However, users running macOS environments based on Lima or Colima, Debian systems using distribution Docker packages, or NixOS setups may need to install or update Buildx manually to meet the required version.

According to the blog post, an upcoming release, DDEV v1.25.2, is expected to bundle a private Docker Buildx binary used exclusively by DDEV. The change would remove the system configuration requirement for most users and simplify the development environment setup.