Introduction to Docker
Learn about Docker containers and their advantages over VMs.
Introduction to Docker
Introduction to Docker
Do You Know?
Docker uses a client-server architecture. The Docker client talks to the Docker daemon, which does the heavy lifting of building, running, and distributing your containers.
What is Docker and why use it?
Docker is a platform designed to make it easier to create, deploy, and run applications by using containers. Containers allow a developer to package up an application with all of the parts it needs, such as libraries and other dependencies, and ship it all out as one package.
docker run hello-world
This ensures that the application will run on any other Linux machine regardless of any customized settings that machine might have that could differ from the machine used for writing and testing the code.
Important Note
Ensure you have Docker installed and running before executing any commands.
Containers vs. Virtual Machines
Containers and virtual machines (VMs) have some similarities but differ significantly. A VM virtualizes the entire operating system, while a container virtualizes only the operating system kernel. This makes containers significantly more lightweight and faster.
| Feature | Container | Virtual Machine |
|---|---|---|
| Operating System | Shares host OS kernel | Has its own OS |
| Resource Usage | Lightweight | Resource-intensive |
| Startup Time | Fast | Slow |
| Portability | High | High (but slower due to OS overhead) |
Avoid This
Don't try to run applications that require system-level access within a container without proper security measures.
Summary
- Docker simplifies application deployment and management.
- Containers are lightweight and portable compared to VMs.
- Docker uses a client-server architecture.
- Understanding the differences between containers and VMs is key to effective Docker usage.