Docker Reviews

I used Docker to Dockerize Java code. We had a code base, and I needed to create a Docker image from it so that it could be deployed. At the time, we used Docker Compose, which is somewhat similar to Kubernetes.

Docker allows virtualization at a higher level without the need for a host machine. You can have a few libraries in the image, and it will run on any machine, making deployment easier. This approach reduces the number of headaches compared to traditional methods.

I work with startups and companies looking to build products from scratch to production. I handle deployments from various teams and use AWS. My experience includes deploying applications, setting up APIs, adding load balancers, and managing traffic. Docker is essential for this work, allowing me to create sandbox environments to run applications. Essentially, Docker helps manage clusters of applications and maintain the cloud environment.

The tool's most valuable feature is its sandbox environment. It makes it very easy to run and test applications without needing configurations, which is the core advantage of containerization. Kubernetes and Helm are helpful as they provide high-level metrics, making tracking the status of all the containers and applications running easier.

Our company uses the solution for the production environment, web projects, and hosting services. For example, we use it to host an NGINX box manager with  proxy, reverse proxy, and DNS server. 

We host a bunch of web services for clients and deploy both on-premises and on the cloud. Several of our development teams use the solution.

I also use the solution in my home lab. 

The solution is easy to deploy for clients so it saves a lot of hassle. 

The networking is an impressive feature. 

Instead of building images for underwriting systems, we pull pre-existing standard images. This allows us to quickly set up the necessary environment for development. For example, if I need a database instance, I simply pull the Docker image and create it, rather than going through a full installation and build process. We also leverage these images to create small, stackable components for building solutions. This streamlines our workflow and enhances our ability to upgrade and adapt quickly.

Docker setup itself is a useful thing because Docker itself is running your environment in a separate isolated box. So, it's not that things will be deployed or installed on your local system. Things (as in the development environment) will be separate. 

Then, the development environment can be segregated from the local underlying hardware. Your instances can be separate, or whatever you build, the application itself can be covered in one single Docker image at the end of it. All these things can be done. It saves part of the configuration and installation time of the initial local setup of the development team. 

So whenever I'm developing something, the time required to set up the local environment and the time required to set up other developers' environments will be radically reduced. So that is a great thing that we have.

TL;DR, Docker helps to reduce the time to set up the environment.

Important features for CI/CD workflows:

For CI/CD pipelines, instead of building separate deployable files, we package our solutions as Docker images. This allows us to compose the entire solution using Docker, which improves our deployment process. 

We create Docker images for each build and push them to a registry. These images are then pulled and deployed in our environments, streamlining the entire process.

I use the solution in my company for internal applications and deployments in the DevOps area. The tool's main use cases revolve around areas like research and development tools and CI/CD pipelines.

The most valuable features of the solution are the support I get from Windows and Linux, along with the cloud platforms and the CLI. There is also a repo feature in the tool.

In our company, I have used Docker to launch an application publicly. The aforementioned application becomes available to end users via CloudFront. Docker is also used to cache the optimized performance.  

Docker hasn't been directly able to improve our organization's deployment processes. 

Docker focuses on converting applications into containers, which reduces their footprint. It allows running multiple instances of applications in containers, ensuring high availability and scalability. It is beneficial for cost savings and managing demand effectively. Many are shifting to Docker for improved budget management and performance, although not all applications are suitable for Docker. Trying it out is necessary to understand its benefits fully.

Kubernetes is the primary container orchestration tool I use with this solution. Docker provides a complete solution for deploying and managing workloads across multiple nodes. Container orchestration has significantly impacted my workload by automating tasks and streamlining operations. The availability of systems like Kubernetes is crucial for planning and managing complete clusters and computing environments. Every client's needs are different, and not one solution fits all.

We use Docker for validation mechanisms and have built Docker images for our applications.

For container orchestration, we haven't used Kubernetes instances extensively. Docker works well for us.

It's flexible and easy to use. My team also finds it comfortable to work with.