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What is Docker? A Beginner’s Guide on Docker

Docker is an open-source software development program that helps developers build portable software containers for faster application development and deployment.

Why Docker?

Infrastructure development is an extensive process that requires writing thousands of lines of code. The sheer size of the operation makes it extremely hard to find and rectify errors. Compatibility also creates issues as the developer creates and optimizes the code onto his/her machine, and initiating the same code on a different system can fetch completely different results. This error occurs due to the lack of libraries and dependencies the code requires to operate as intended, which were present on the developer machine but not on the other system. This other machine can be someone from the operations trying to deploy the code for configuration or the client trying to use the software.

To counter the above-mentioned issues, Solomon Hykes created Docker in 2013. Docker simplifies the process of developing, deploying, and running applications. It does so by using containers. Containers allow a developer to create one complete package of an application and libraries and dependencies it needs to execute. This feature enables the application to run on any other Linux machine without any problem. Docker uses the host OS kernel instead of requiring a special one to run the application. This feature results in better performance, and the application stays lightweight. Docker is beneficial for both developers and operations. It helps developers code with ease without worrying about the machine on which it will ultimately run. As for the operations team, Docker gives them a lot of flexibility due to its small footprint, higher compatibility, and proves to be a lower-cost alternative.

How does Docker work?

Docker starts with the Dockerfile. It is a text file that includes syntax instructions to build a Docker image. Dockerfile is used to create an image. Docker image is a portable file that contains specifications required for the container to run. Docker build helps to create an image from the Dockerfile. Docker run helps to launch the container. 

The entire process revolves around the Docker engine, the client-server technology that is used to create and run the containers. 

Docker Hub

Docker Hub is like a social media for Dockers. Hub is a platform for sharing and managing containers and is the world’s largest of its kind repository. It is a community of developers, open-source projects, and independent developers building and distributing codes in containers.

Docker Engine

There are two different versions of the Docker engine. One is Community Edition, and the other one is Enterprise edition. While the Community edition is free Enterprise version costs $1500 per node per year and contains an advanced management machine compared to its free counterpart. 

Docker revolutionized infrastructure building, making it easier for developers to code, operations to configure. Docker also helped in providing an error-free experience for the end-user. 

Docker can be the solution your organization needs for fast-paced and efficient operations. Consult the Teamitek team today for help.

If you are looking for experienced Automation professionals for your organization, contact us at victor@teamitek.com.