Tony's Tech Terms: Docker containers

Docker containers are like shipping containers for software. Just as a shipping container holds goods and ensures they can be transported safely across ships, trains, and trucks without being repacked, a Docker container packages up a piece of software with everything it needs to run—code, libraries, and settings—so it can move smoothly from one computer environment to another.

Whether the software is running on a developer's laptop, a company's server, or in the cloud, the Docker container ensures it will behave the same way everywhere, without the risk of it "breaking" due to differences in the environments.

In shipping, containers are standardized, so they can easily stack on cargo ships and be loaded onto trucks or trains without changing the contents. Similarly, Docker containers use a standard format, allowing software to be consistently deployed and run across various systems. This makes managing applications more efficient and predictable, as you can easily replicate and update them without worrying about compatibility issues between different machines. Docker simplifies the complexities of moving software around by ensuring it stays "packaged" exactly the same way, no matter where it's being delivered.

We’ve spent the last year moving our applications over to run on containers. We’re down to our last few applications now! We hope to have everything ported over by the end of 2024.