Overview
Docker is an open-source platform that enables developers and IT teams to build, package, and run applications inside containers. By providing a standard way to bundle applications with their dependencies, Docker makes software portable and consistent across laptops, servers, and cloud environments.
What Problem Does It Solve?
Before Docker, developers often faced the classic “it works on my machine” problem, where applications behaved differently across environments due to configuration or dependency issues. Docker solves this by packaging applications in containers, ensuring they run the same way regardless of where they are deployed.
How It Works
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Images: A Docker image is a read-only template with instructions for creating a container. It includes the application code, libraries, and runtime.
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Containers: Running instances of images that can be started, stopped, and replicated easily.
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Docker Engine: The runtime that builds and runs containers.
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Docker Hub: A public registry where developers can share and download container images.
Everyday Benefits
- Simplifies application deployment and scaling.
- Speeds up development cycles by giving teams consistent environments.
- Makes it easier to adopt microservices architectures.
- Works across on-premise and cloud platforms without changes to the code.
Deployment Considerations
While Docker is widely used, it is often paired with orchestration tools like Kubernetes for managing containers at scale. Security and image management are critical: organisations need to ensure they use trusted images and keep them updated. Docker has become a cornerstone of cloud-native development and modern DevOps practices.
