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Containerization

Overview of containers

Containers are lightweight, portable, and self-sufficient units that package an application and its dependencies together. They provide a consistent environment for applications to run, regardless of the underlying infrastructure. Containers are isolated from each other and the host system, which allows for better resource utilization and easier management.

Container orchestrators

There are several container orchestrators available, each with its own features and capabilities. Some of the most popular ones include:

  • Docker: The most widely used container platform, which allows developers to easily create, deploy, and manage containers.
  • Podman: A newer, daemonless container engine that allows users to manage containers without requiring a central service or root privileges. Podman is compatible with Docker commands, making it easy to switch between the two.
  • Kubernetes: An open-source container orchestration platform that automates the deployment, scaling, and management of containerized applications.
  • OpenShift: A Kubernetes-based platform that provides additional features for managing containerized applications, such as developer tools and a web console.

Getting started with containerization

To get started with containerization, you need to install a container orchestrator on your system. The most common choice is Docker, which can be installed on various operating systems. Follow the official Docker installation guide to set up Docker on your machine. Once Docker is installed, you can start creating and managing containers. Here are some basic commands to help you get started:

Pull an image from Docker Hub

docker pull hello-world

Run a container from the pulled image

docker run hello-world
You can also create your own Docker images by writing a Dockerfile, which contains instructions for building the image. For example, a simple Dockerfile might look like this:
Dockerfile
FROM alpine:latest
CMD ["echo", "Hello, World!"]
To build the image from the Dockerfile, run the following command in the same directory as the Dockerfile: 
docker build -t hello .
After building the image, you can run it as a container: 
docker run hello

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