Docker

Overview

Docker is an open-source platform that uses containerization technology to package applications and their dependencies into a single, portable unit. It solves the "it works on my machine" problem by ensuring the app runs identically across any environment.

Pricing & Free Tier

Free Tier (Personal): Yes. Docker Desktop is free for personal use, education, and small businesses (under 250 employees & $10M revenue).
Pro: $9/month. Adds Docker Build Cloud minutes and higher image pull limits.
Team: $15/user/month for centralized management.

How to Use

1. Install Docker Desktop on your OS.
2. Create a Dockerfile in your project root, defining the base image and instructions.
3. Build the image: docker build -t myapp .
4. Run the container: docker run -p 8080:80 myapp

Important Notes

• Licensing: Large enterprises (>250 employees) must purchase a paid subscription to use Docker Desktop.
• Data Persistence: Containers are ephemeral. Any data saved inside a container is lost when it stops; you must use "Volumes" for persistence.