Docker

Docker is a technology used to ease and fasten the creation, testing, and deployment of applications.

Docker uses units called containers that are equipped with all necessary components for the running of applications including system tools, runtime, libraries, and code.

However, you should understand that Docker is neither a LXC, configuration management system, or a Platform as a Service technology (PaaS).

How Docker Works

Docker simply works by providing a standard environment for developers to run code. Docker is typically an operating system designed for containers. Its operation mechanism is almost similar to how virtualization works by eliminating the need to have the hardware to have access to resources.

Docker enables multiple applications and processes to run separately from each other, hence improving security and speeding up the process. Docker is typically installed in separate servers and provides users with simple interfaces to create, start, or stop containers.

Why Use Docker

Since its launch, Docker has witnessed a rapid increase in popularity among developers. There are a lot of reasons why developers like Docker but the major ones include:

Fast Development which is Cost-Effective

This is the main reason why developers opt for Docker. Docker takes out traditional development snugs such as hardware customization which required a lot of time, along with massive overheads that came with the development process.

Modularity and Scalability

With Docker, It is possible to only take down certain parts of an application to customize or repair, instead of taking down the entire application. Developers can also integrate new functionality into applications, which increases the scalability speed.

Rollback

Docker makes it possible for developers to rollback to previous images, which is highly supportive of the agile development methodology.

Flexibility

With Docker, it is possible to perform upgrades during product release cycles, while making necessary changes to containers without any struggles. It also makes it easy to implement new security patches into applications using the same process.