What is Docker & Why is it Getting Popular?

What is Docker & Why is it
Getting Popular?
Published on: November 28, 2023
“Docker allows you to package an application with all its dependencies
into a standardized unit for software development.” - Docker.
Being in IT for the last 5 years, you might have heard of the container
platform Docker. Docker and containers are a new approach to executing
software that changes how software is developed and delivered. Solomon
Hykes co-founded Docker, a company that aimed to make containers
easier to use, five years ago.
The buzz grew into a roar with the June 2014 release of Docker 1.0. And it's
just grown louder over time. Docker is gaining popularity, and many firms
have begun to include it in their development process. But what’s the
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reason behind it? Today, we will walk you through the nitty-gritty of Docker
and why it is getting adopted rapidly.
Content Highlights
What is Docker?
Docker vs. Virtual Machine
Docker Core Components
Why do companies embrace Docker containers?
Comparing docker to other containerization tools
Best Docker Extensions
Docker Use Cases
Conclusion
MarsDevs · Docker Overview
What is Docker?

Before we delve into Docker, let’s look at what containers are. A container
is a sort of process that is separate from other processes. Containers are
given resources that no other process can access and cannot access any
resources that have not been specifically allotted to them.
Why is it a big deal?
Processes that are not "containerized" can request access to any file on
disk or network socket from the operating system.
There was no reliable, guaranteed mechanism to isolate a process to its
resources until containers were widely accessible. A fully functioning
container has no method of reaching outside its resource "sandbox" and
interacting with resources not expressly given to it.
For example, 2 containers operating on the same machine may as well be
running on two entirely distinct systems thousands of kilometers apart.
They are completely and effectively separated from one another.
The road to cloud-native begins with containerizing your application and
its dependencies. Containers are also cloud-native technologies,
contributing to the Cloud Native Computing Foundation's (CNCF) mission
of cultivating and sustaining an ecosystem of open-source, vendor-
neutral initiatives.
As Craig McLuckie from Google said, “This containers revolution is
changing software consumption. It’s redefining into a lightweight, portable
unit/atom that is easier to comprehend. It’s a lane to dynamic
management & systems.”
Now that you understand, containers enter Docker. It is open-source
software that allows programs to be deployed within virtual containers.
Containerization enables distinct applications to operate in various

difficult contexts. Docker lets the WordPress content management system
work flawlessly on Windows, Linux, and macOS platforms.
Docker vs. Virtual Machine
While Docker and virtual machines accomplish comparable functions,
they differ greatly in speed, OS support & portability.
The primary distinction is that Docker containers share the host's
operating system, whereas virtual machines run a guest operating system
on top of the host system. This mode of operation impacts performance,
hardware requirements, and OS support.
Here are some more differences between containers like Docker and
virtual machines.
Better Developer Productivity: Containers are easier and faster to
install, provision, and restart than virtual machines. As a result, they
are a superior choice for CI (continuous integration) and CD

(continuous delivery) pipelines. They are also more suited for Agile
and DevOps procedures.
More Lightweight: Containers simply contain the processes and their
dependencies. VMs, on the other hand, have a second OS instance.
As a result, a container is lighter than its virtual machine equivalent
for the identical application operation.
Superior Resource Utilization: Containers, like virtual machines, allow
several copies of an application process to execute on the same
hardware simultaneously. They, on the other hand, use fewer resources.
Docker Core Components
The Docker tool comprises several components, each of which plays a
vital function in the platform. Let’s take a look.
Docker Engine

The Docker Engine (DE), installed on the host machine, is the heart of the
Docker system. It is a lightweight runtime system and the underlying
client-server technology that allows containers to be created and
managed.
Docker Engine includes three parts:
Server - The Docker daemon (Dockerd) is responsible for generating
and managing containers on the server.
Rest API - Allows applications to communicate with Docker & directs
Dockerd on what to do.
Command Line Interface (CLI) - Docker instructions are executed via the
Command Line Interface (CLI).
Docker Images
Docker images are container construction templates. Docker images, like
virtual machine snapshots, are immutable, read-only files that contain the
source code, libraries, dependencies, tools, and any other files required to
run an application.
A Dockerfile, which provides precise instructions for generating a specific
Docker image, is used to generate each image. Once you have mastered
producing Docker images using Dockerfiles, you can construct images
and custom containers more quickly and easily.
Dockerfile
A Dockerfile is a script that contains instructions for creating a Docker
image. The operating system, languages, Docker environment variables,
file locations, network ports, and other components required to run the

image are all specified in these instructions. All the commands in the file
are automatically grouped and executed.
Docker Hub
Docker Hub is Docker's largest cloud-based repository of container
images. It hosts approximately 100,000 images created by open-source
projects, software vendors, and the Docker community.
The platform enables you to ship apps anywhere swiftly, connect with
peers, and automate builds for speedier integration into a development
pipeline. Developers, like GitHub, push and pull container images from
Docker Hub and choose whether to make them public or private.
Docker Volumes
Instead of adding additional layers to an image, utilizing Docker volumes
is a better way to retain data created by a running container. Users can
use this useful tool to preserve data, transfer it amongst containers, and
mount it to new ones. The container life cycle does not affect Docker
volumes because they are kept on the host.
Docker Compose
Docker Compose is a handy tool for simultaneously launching and
managing numerous containers. It connects many containers required for
collaboration and controls them with a single coordinated command.
Docker Compose is a command-line tool for launching, executing, and
communicating with containers. It is accomplished using a YAML file to
configure the application's services.
Docker Desktop

Docker Desktop, formerly known as Docker for Windows and Docker for
Mac, is a program that allows you to create and operate containers on
Windows and Mac in minutes. It is a straightforward installation and
configuration of the entire Docker development environment.
Docker CLI Client, Docker Compose, Docker Engine, Docker Content Trust,
Credential Helper & Kubernetes are all included. The tool creates and
shares containerized apps and microservices across any cloud platform in
various languages and frameworks.
Why do companies embrace Docker
containers?
Docker has been the most popular container platform since its initial
release in June 2014. As the Co-founder of Qovery, Morgan Perry, says - “It's
extremely easy for developers to create, manage, scale & deploy their
apps securely using Docker.“
As research reports, 2/3 of Companies that test out docker adopt it. So,
why is Docker so popular among companies? Let’s take a look.
Easy Usage
Docker's success stems in large part from its ease of use. Docker may be
learned quickly due to the number of resources for constructing and
managing containers. Because Docker is open-source, all you need to get
started is a computer with a supported operating system, such as Linux,
Virtualbox, Docker for Mac/Windows, or generic container support.
Easy to Deploy
A docker container may be easily deployed to the cloud. Docker, in
particular, makes it simple to construct local development environments

that function just like a live server for CI/CD run several development
environments from the same host with different apps, operating systems,
and configurations. Organizations that use Docker for CI/CD have reported
spending 50% less time dealing with security concerns.
Simplicity and Speed
Docker is well-known for its ability to streamline the process. It enables
customers to take their configuration, write it, and distribute it seamlessly.
Docker is compatible with a broad range of environments. Therefore, the
application environment is no longer a barrier.
Continuous Deployment and Testing
Docker makes it possible to have consistent environments from
development to production. Suppose a developer has to upgrade a
product throughout its release cycle.
In that case, he may do it by making the necessary modifications to the
Docker container, testing them, and then implementing the same changes
into existing containers. They can easily use Docker Hub to search and
share container images with the team. Private repositories need a
membership plan, whereas public repositories are free.
Multi-Cloud Platforms and Isolation
One of Docker's primary selling points is portability. Amazon Web Services
and Google Compute Platform have adopted it as a genuine service
provider, demonstrating its supremacy. Docker is well-known for isolating
your apps and resources. It gives containers their resources and
encourages them to run within their containers.

Comparing docker to other
containerization tools
So far, we have learned what docker is and why it’s so popular. Now, we'll
know how Docker compares to Kubernetes and Jenkins and the contrasts
between them.
Docker vs. Kubernetes
Kubernetes is an open-source container orchestration technology,
whereas Docker is a platform for constructing and operating containers.
These two technologies cannot be compared as Docker creates
containers while Kubernetes maintains them on a large scale.
Docker offers a simple and efficient approach to running and managing
containers, but Kubernetes offers more complex capabilities, such as
automated container deployment, scalability, and self-healing.
On the other hand, Docker has an orchestration mechanism called Docker
Swarm. Having evolved from the Docker project, Kubernetes has emerged
as the de facto Docker orchestration domain of choice.
Docker vs. Jenkins
Comparing Docker with Jenkins is like comparing a cat and a dog. Docker
and Jenkins serve fundamentally distinct purposes. Hence, they cannot be
compared. Jenkins is a central automation system for the CI/CD
development approach, in which developers continually send tiny portions
of work to avoid merge problems. On the other hand, Docker is a system
for containerization.
Using its plugins, Jenkins provides an intuitive interface for creating and
managing numerous CI/CD pipelines. For software testing, anyone may

create Docker images and run Docker containers using the Jenkins CI/CD
pipeline.
Best Docker Extensions
Gabriel N. Schenker, in his book ‘Learn Docker - Fundamentals of Docker 18.
x’ says, “Companies that implement containers & containerize their
traditional mission-critical apps have witnessed savings of around 50% in
overall maintenance costs & a 90% or more reduction in deploying new
versions of those apps.”
It implies that Docker is an essential tool to master since it can help you
automate many tasks and business operations. So, let's look at some
useful Docker extensions that can improve the efficiency and productivity
of your Docker process.
JFrog - If you've previously dealt with Docker images, you'll
occasionally need to work with open-source ones. In some cases, this
addition comes in handy.
Portainer - Portainer provides a web-based interface for managing
Docker-related resources like containers, images, volumes, networks,
etc.
Disk Usage - Disk consumption is a Docker addon that provides
developers with data about their Docker disk consumption.
Drone CI - DroneCI is an open-source tool that allows you to deploy
the app to a selected host.
Okteto - Okteto is a valuable tool that boosts productivity and
enjoyment by delivering pre-configured surroundings. It saves you
time from manually configuring environments.
Docker Use Cases

Docker has several uses. Let’s go over a few.
To Try New Software
Docker allows you to test new software without having to install it
manually. Docker is also beneficial when you need software to be
available quickly. For example, setting up a MySQL server is time-
consuming and labor-intensive. It simply takes one command in the
Docker CLI to do this.
To Know More about the CLI
Although Docker can run on any machine, it was developed especially for
Linux. As a result, we suggest setting it on a Linux-based machine. It will
allow you to learn more about system administration, command-line
interfaces, and scripting.
To Reduce Incident Risk

If a Docker image is available, users may immediately undo any
modifications in the event of a hardware failure. They simply need to copy
the image backup to a new computer, and Docker will take care of the
rest. Docker image backups are also useful when developers need to
revert to an earlier version of a piece of software due to defects or
incompatibility.
Conclusion
Docker is a powerful technology that streamlines the development
process and allows developers to build, test, and deploy apps rapidly and
efficiently. Docker streamlines & speeds your process while allowing
developers to innovate using each project's preferred tools, app stacks &
deployment environments.
With the growth of containerization technologies, it is clear that Docker will
be in the spotlight for the foreseeable future. Want to explore Docker
further? Let MarsDevs help. MarsDevs is our one-stop solution for all
technical needs.
So, make the most of Docker with MarsDevs. Reach out to us today!
FAQs
1. What is so special about Docker?
Docker containers enable apps to be easily shuttled across environments
since they encapsulate everything an application needs to execute.
2. Is Docker Hard to Learn?
It may take some time to grasp Docker, but deploying your first container
will be quick. Docker provides an easy-to-use Docker Desktop application

and thorough documentation for beginners and advanced users to get
started.
3. Why is Docker becoming popular?
Docker is a well-known open-source containerization platform. It provides
enhanced security, simplified management, and faster deployment.
4. What is the best use of Docker?
Docker containers may be used as web servers or file servers. Docker
containers for Nginx are also commonly used to build reverse proxy
servers. Docker containers may be used to host and develop your Virtual
Private Network (VPN).
5. How is Docker used in real-time projects?
Dockers allow users to construct environment templates, so no effort is
wasted setting environments because each environment is the same.
Docker simplifies the management of large-scale systems & the creation
of pipelines. It is a Linux application that is compatible with other operating
systems.
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