Introduction to Docker 🐳

Docker is an open-source platform that enables developers to package, distribute, and run applications in isolated containers. These containers ensure consistent environments across development, testing, and production, simplifying the deployment process.

Key Concepts

  • Container: A lightweight, standalone, and executable package that includes everything needed to run an application (code, runtime, system tools, libraries, etc).
    container
  • Image: A read-only template used to create containers. Think of it as a blueprint for the container.
    image
  • Dockerfile: A text file containing instructions to build a Docker image.
    dockerfile

Why Use Docker?

  • Consistency: Avoid "it works on my machine" issues by ensuring environments are identical across systems.
  • Portability: Containers run seamlessly on any system with Docker installed.
  • Efficiency: Share only the necessary components with your application.
    installation

Basic Commands

docker run hello-world  # Run a container from an image
docker build -t my-app . # Build an image from a Dockerfile
docker ps               # List running containers
docker images            # List all images

Use Cases

  • Web Development: Quickly spin up local environments for testing.
  • Microservices: Deploy and scale services independently.
  • CI/CD Pipelines: Automate testing and deployment workflows.

For deeper insights into Docker's architecture, visit our Docker Overview guide. 🚀

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