Docker for Developers
by Richard Bullington-McGuire
Master containerization with Docker from development to production. Learn to build, ship, and run applications in containers, orchestrate multi-container applications, and implement best practices for container-based workflows.
Last updated: 2026-02-05
Chapters
This guide covers the following chapters. Work through them in order for the best learning experience.
Introduction to Docker
Understanding containers, Docker architecture, and the container ecosystem
Getting Started with Docker
Installing Docker, running your first container, and basic commands
Working with Docker Images
Understanding image layers, pulling images, and image management
Building Docker Images
Dockerfile syntax, build context, and creating custom images
Dockerfile Best Practices
Multi-stage builds, layer optimization, and security considerations
Container Networking
Network drivers, container communication, and exposing services
Managing Data and Volumes
Volumes, bind mounts, and persistent storage strategies
Docker Compose
Multi-container applications, service definitions, and orchestration
Advanced Docker Compose
Environment management, profiles, dependencies, and production configurations
Development Workflows
Hot reloading, debugging containers, and developer experience
Docker Registries
Docker Hub, private registries, and image distribution
Container Security
Security best practices, vulnerability scanning, and runtime security
Production Deployment
Deployment strategies, health checks, and container orchestration
Monitoring and Logging
Container observability, log aggregation, and metrics collection
CI/CD Integration
Building Docker into continuous integration and deployment pipelines