Docker
Docker is a platform for developing, shipping, and running applications in containers. Containers package an application with all its dependencies, ensuring it runs the same way in development, testin…
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Definition
Docker is a platform for developing, shipping, and running applications in containers. Containers package an application with all its dependencies, ensuring it runs the same way in development, testing, and production. Docker has become the standard for application packaging and is fundamental to modern DevOps and microservices architectures.
Key Points
- Containers are lightweight — share the host OS kernel, not full VMs
- Dockerfile defines the exact environment your app needs
- Docker Compose orchestrates multi-container applications locally
- Essential for microservices architecture and cloud-native development
Frequently Asked Questions
VMs virtualise an entire operating system (heavy, slow to start, GB-sized). Docker containers share the host OS kernel and only package the app and its dependencies (lightweight, start in seconds, MB-sized). You can run dozens of containers on a machine that would struggle with a few VMs.
For small projects with 1-2 developers, Docker is optional but beneficial for consistency. It becomes essential when: you have multiple services, team members have different setups, or you need to deploy to cloud. Even for small projects, Docker Compose makes local development with databases and services easy.
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