Why is Docker so popular compared to other containerization tools?
Tags: docker, serverless, kubernetes, discuss
Published: 2022-07-18 17:08:17

Since its early release in June 2014, docker has become the most popular container platform. An open-source platform, Docker is capable of developing, packaging, and running applications. Since its inception, docker has seen a steady and sustainable rise in its popularity.  

That being said, you could be one of the next organizations to [leverage Docker](https://www.simform.com/blog/docker-use-cases/) in DevOps to create ready-to-run containerized applications. But before jumping into it, let's have a look at some of its benefits resulting in its massive popularity. 

##Why is docker so popular?

###Easy usage

The simplicity of using Docker contributes significantly to its popularity. Due to the abundance of resources for learning how to create and manage containers, Docker may be learned rapidly. Since Docker is open-source, all you need to get started is a computer running a supported operating system, such as Linux, Virtualbox, Docker for Mac/Windows, or support for containers in general.

###Easy to deploy

It is relatively easy to deploy a docker container to the cloud. Docker specifically makes it easy to create local development environments that are precisely like a live server for CI/CD; operate numerous development environments from the same host with various applications, operating systems, and configurations. Organizations relying on docker for CI/CD have observed spending [50 percent](https://puppet.com/resources/report/2016-state-devops-report) less time addressing the security issues. 

###Scalability

The only way to scale a website in the early days of the Internet was to purchase or rent more servers. The cost of scaling up was linearly correlated with the cost of popularity. Popular websites paid tens of thousands of dollars for new gear because they were victims of their own success. Data center managers can fit a lot more workloads onto a smaller amount of hardware thanks to containers. Hardware sharing results in cost savings. Using containers, more work can be accomplished with far less processing hardware. Moreover, you can focus on developing multiple features simultaneously at the same time and stack them up like lego to keep on scaling your application. 

###Flexibility

Comparatively to operating non-containerized apps, operating containerized applications is more flexible and robust. Container orchestrators are extremely effective tools for managing complicated systems and massive deployments. Kubernetes, the most popular container orchestrator at the moment, maybe the only thing that is currently more well-liked than Docker.

###Better software delivery

Container-based software distribution may also be more effective. Containers are portable and totally self-sufficient. They come with an isolated disc volume. As the container is created and implemented in various settings, that volume travels with it, carrying all the software dependencies (libraries, runtimes, etc.). A container will function in the same manner in a Development, Staging, and Production environment if it functions correctly on your computer. Containers can solve the issues with configuration variance that frequently arise when distributing binaries or uncompiled code.

##Final thoughts

With the rise of containerization technology, it is evident that docker will be in the limelight for years to come. Docker has revolutionized the software development process with its benefits. Do you know any other intriguing benefit of docker that makes it stand out from other containerization tools? Let us know in the comments below.