Docker

Containers are revolutionary.

The offer VM-like isolation with significantly reduced size and memory overhead.

They provide automated image creation, streamlined distribution via registries, and a layered image structure, minimizing disk space and network bandwidth usage.

Containers have become a cornerstone of cloud computing, enabling developers to build, deploy, and scale applications more efficiently and reliably.

Setup

To install Docker, run the following command:

brew install --cask docker

Start the Docker daemon by typing "Docker" in Spotlight and pressing Enter.

To verify that the installation was successful, run a container from the hello-world image:

docker run hello-world

You should see the following message:

Hello from Docker!
This message shows that your installation appears to be working correctly.

Docker Compose

Docker Compose is a tool for defining and running multi-container Docker applications. It uses a YAML file to configure application services, networks, and volumes, making it easier to manage applications with interconnected containers.

While Docker Compose is not recommended for production use, especially for larger applications, it is ideal for setting up a platform-agnostic local development environment. Configuring a development environment can be time-consuming, particularly when onboarding new team members. Before Docker, Vagrant was commonly used for this purpose, relying on virtual machines.