docs: add Podman as alternative container runtime

docs/deployment/installation.md

@@ -38,18 +38,36 @@ manual [installation packages](https://github.com/OpenAEV-Platform/openaev/relea
 
 OpenAEV can be deployed using the *docker compose* command.
 
+!!! tip "Podman as an alternative"
+
+    [Podman](https://podman.io/) is a drop-in replacement for Docker that does not require a daemon and can run containers rootless. Most `docker` and `docker compose` commands translate directly to `podman` and `podman compose` equivalents. If you prefer Podman or face [Docker Desktop licensing constraints](https://docs.docker.com/subscription/desktop-license/), you can substitute `podman` wherever `docker` is used in this guide.
+
 ### Pre-requisites
 
 **:material-linux:{ .middle } Linux**
 
-```bash
-sudo apt install docker-compose
-```
+=== "Docker"
+
+    ```bash
+    sudo apt install docker-compose
+    ```
+
+=== "Podman"
+
+    ```bash
+    sudo apt install podman podman-compose
+    ```
 
 **:material-microsoft-windows:{ .middle } Windows and MacOS**
 
-Just download the appropriate [Docker for Desktop](https://www.docker.com/products/docker-desktop) version for your
-operating system.
+=== "Docker"
+
+    Download the appropriate [Docker Desktop](https://www.docker.com/products/docker-desktop) version for your
+    operating system.
+
+=== "Podman"
+
+    Download [Podman Desktop](https://podman-desktop.io/) for your operating system. Podman Desktop provides a graphical interface and manages the Podman machine automatically.
 
 ### Clone the repository
 
@@ -80,6 +98,10 @@ sudo systemctl start docker.service
 docker compose up -d
 ```
 
+!!! tip "Using Podman"
+
+    If you are using Podman, replace `docker compose` with `podman compose` and skip the `systemctl start docker.service` step (Podman does not require a daemon).
+
 !!! success "Installation done"
 
     You can now navigate to [http://localhost:8080](http://localhost:8080/) and log in with the credentials filled in your configuration.

docs/development/build-from-source.md

@@ -43,6 +43,10 @@ cp ./openaev-api/src/main/resources/application.properties ./openaev-api/src/mai
 Preconfigured containers for all the needed support containers (PostgreSQL, MinIO, RabbitMQ, Elasticsearch...)
 can be found as a docker compose file in `./openaev/openaev-dev`.
 
+!!! tip "Using Podman"
+
+    If you use [Podman](https://podman.io/) instead of Docker, replace `docker compose` with `podman compose` in the commands below. All compose files are fully compatible with Podman. See the [Ubuntu prerequisites](environment-ubuntu.md) for installation instructions.
+
 Create a file a this location: `./openaev/openaev-dev/.env` and populate it with a minimal set of keys:
 ```shell
 POSTGRES_USER=openaev	

docs/development/environment-ubuntu.md

@@ -5,7 +5,21 @@
 ```shell
 apt-get update && apt-get install git openjdk-21-jdk maven
 ```
-* Docker Engine: follow the official instructions at [Install Docker Engine on Ubuntu](https://docs.docker.com/engine/install/ubuntu/).
+* A container runtime is required to run development dependency containers (PostgreSQL, MinIO, RabbitMQ, Elasticsearch). Install **one** of the following:
+
+=== "Docker Engine"
+
+    Follow the official instructions at [Install Docker Engine on Ubuntu](https://docs.docker.com/engine/install/ubuntu/).
+
+=== "Podman"
+
+    [Podman](https://podman.io/) is a daemonless, rootless alternative to Docker. Most `docker` commands translate directly to `podman`.
+
+    ```shell
+    apt-get update && apt-get install podman podman-compose
+    ```
+
+    💡 Podman provides a Docker-compatible CLI. All `docker compose` commands used in the [build from source](build-from-source.md) guide can be replaced with `podman compose`.
 
 ## Frontend
 * yarn via `apt-get`
@@ -22,4 +36,4 @@ Then install and set as default Node.js 22 (you should be able to use any versio
 ```shell
 nvm install 22
 nvm use 22
-```
+```