Docker for Developers: Create and Manage Docker Containers

Course details

Discover how to leverage Docker for application development. Join instructor Shelley Benhoff as she outlines essential Docker skills—from basic application setup to deploying your own application to the cloud. Learn to build and run containers, write clear and efficient Dockerfiles, and manage persistent storage and networking to power real-world applications. Along the way, through interactive examples, you’ll learn how to inspect and troubleshoot container lifecycles and manage multicontainer applications using Docker Compose. Explore basic clustering with Swarm and learn how to deploy and scale workloads in Kubernetes. By the end of this course, you’ll be prepared to confidently create, manage, and deploy Docker containers in your everyday development workflow.

Learning objectives
Define the core concepts of containerization and explain how Docker differs from traditional virtual machines.
Implement Dockerfiles to build, tag, and optimize container images for performance and security.
Analyze container lifecycles and apply Docker CLI commands to manage, inspect, and troubleshoot running containers.
Design multicontainer application architectures using Docker Compose, including service dependencies and configuration.
Deploy and scale containerized services with Docker Swarm and Kubernetes, demonstrating basic orchestration workflows.
Integrate Docker into CI/CD pipelines to automate image builds, testing, and deployments in a reproducible workflow.

Concepts

Introduction

Streamline your development with Docker
What you should know

Introducing Docker

Why use Docker
Installing Docker Desktop
Installing the container tools extension for VS Code
Comparing images and containers
Running your first container

Working with Docker Containers

Using Docker CLI commands
Inspecting containers
Viewing container logs
Removing containers
Challenge - Managing Docker containers
Solution - Managing Docker containers

Building Images

Finding and pulling Docker images
Writing a Dockerfile
Using the docker build command
Listing, inspecting, and removing images
Working with an image repository
Challenge - Building a custom image
Solution - Building a custom image

Running Multi-Container Applications with Docker Compose

What is Docker Compose
Writing a Docker Compose file
Running a multi-container application
Using Docker Compose CLI commands
Challenge - Running a multi-container application
Solution - Running a multi-container application

Using Persistent Storage and Networking

Comparing Docker volumes and bind mounts
Using a Docker volume
Using a bind mount
Creating a custom network
Challenge - Working with persistent storage and networks
Solution - Working with persistent storage and networks

Introducing Swarm

What is Swarm mode
Initializing a swarm
Adding nodes to a swarm
Deploy and manage a service
Challenge - Using Swarm mode
Solution - Using Swarm mode

Introducing Kubernetes

What is Kubernetes
Installing kubectl and minikube
Translating Docker Compose to Kubernetes using Kompose
Deploying a sample application
Scaling in Kubernetes
Challenge - Working with Kubernetes
Solution - Working with Kubernetes
Removing Kubernetes resources and stopping minikube

Integrating Docker into CI CD Pipelines

Integrating Docker into CI CD pipelines
Adding a GitHub Actions workflow
Creating secrets in your GitHub repository
Running the GitHub workflow
Challenge - Implementing a GitHub workflow
Solution - Implementing a GitHub workflow

Conclusion

Leveling up your Docker expertise