Docker is a Software Platform for Developers and System Admins to Build, Test and Deploy Applications quickly. These applications are built into executable packages, called Images. An Image includes everything to Run an Application; the code, libraries, configuration files, etc.
Why the Docker software platform?
Docker packages everything into a standardized unit called a Docker Container; which is a run time instance of an Image. A Container is launched by running an image. With Docker; we can Develop, Deploy and Run Applications quickly and cost-effectively. With the Docker software platform, we can manage the Containers very efficiently, and also allows us to Scale the Applications into any environment.
Docker Containers are Scalable, Flexible, Lightweight, Interchangeable, Stackable, and Portable. Docker is an Operating System for the Containers. We can install Docker in an environment where we need to develop and manage the Containers. Docker doesn’t run as a full-blown “guest” Operating System like Virtual Machine, but runs natively, and shares the kernel of the host machine with other Containers.
Using Docker, we can quickly Deploy and Scale Applications through the centralized platform, called the Docker Engine.
:: Charles