Most of the Docker content on the internet leaves so many critical questions unanswered...

What even IS Docker? And why should I use it?

The first question you probably have about Docker is "What is it and why should I use it?"

The standard answer is that Docker is "kind of like a VM". This answer may be true but it's not very helpful.

Okay, Docker is kind of like a VM, but WHY do people use Docker?

Where should I start with Docker? What's the "hello world"?

If you go to docker.com and find their "getting started" guide, it just dives into all kinds of details right away. Not even GOOD details, just a bunch of random stuff. It's fairly bewildering.

What happened to the idea of showing the simplest possible example? Why not show us one idea at a time?

What do all these terms mean? What's an image, container, volume, etc.?

It's surprisingly hard to find good, straightforward answers to simple questions like these.

For example, the concept of a Docker volume isn't complicated...but you'd never know that from what you see on the search results for "docker volume"!

What if learning Docker could be easy and straightforward?

Imagine if it were crystal clear to you which Docker concepts are important and which ones you can ignore.

Imagine if you could easily Dockerize an application of your own, and fully understand every step that you're taking.

Imagine if you could just use Docker to make your development work easier without having to think about it.

That's what my book, Docker for Beginners, is designed to help you do.

What's in the book

The two use cases for Docker

Learn why there's not really any such thing as "Dockerizing an application". Rather there are different ways to Dockerize an application for different use cases.

How to build a Docker "hello world"

See what it's like to build the simplest possible Docker demo.

The difference between Docker and Docker Compose

See why Docker Compose is such an indispensible tool for people who use Docker and how Docker Compose differs from Docker itself.

Docker concepts and terminology, explained in clear language

Finally understand what images, containers and volumes are (and how to use them).

How to Dockerize a simple web application

Complete a tutorial where you'll not only build your own Dockerized web application but understand exactly what you're doing and why.

How to add a Dockerized database to a web application

Discover how to use Docker to add services like PostgreSQL to your application's development, without having to have those services installed on your computer.

FAQs

How long is the book?

What's the format of the book?

What if I buy it and I don’t like it? Do I get my money back?

About the Author

I'm Jason Swett. I'm a developer, speaker, trainer, author and host of The Rails with Jason Podcast.

I've taught programming classes and given tech talks all over the US and the world, including conferences like RailsConf, RubyConf India and RubyHACK. My corporate teaching clients have included Deloitte, VMware, Liberty Mutual and HP.

I've spoken or taught in the US, India, Nigeria, Bulgaria and the Netherlands.