In recent times, corporations are increasingly gravitating towards incorporating containers into their operational procedures, owing to their ubiquitous advantages such as their portability, adaptability, economy, and reliability. With the aid of advanced tools such as Kubernetes and Docker Swarm, development teams can successfully develop, examine, and launch applications and services; all of which can be dynamically altered to cater to changing requirements.
Furthermore, containers simplify the deployment of intricate stacks and applications, requiring a single command. This eliminates the need for time-consuming and arduous conventional application development procedures, as programs can be swiftly launched via the command line, or with the help of an intuitive graphical user interface manager such as Portainer.
Undoubtedly, there is a significant learning phase entailed in incorporating containers, and more specifically Kubernetes, into a corporation that is new to this technology. In actuality, achieving efficient deployment and management of containers may entail a sharp learning curve.
It is imperative to contemplate how best to provide developers with the essential tools to surmount container security issues. Let us explore some probable solutions that could aid in their transition.
Evaluation Context
The primary focus is on establishing a test environment, and the preliminary stride involves setting up said environment. Instead of having their personnel gain on-site experience from a cloud hosting provider, it is often more preferable to keep testing in-house. This is in part due to the potential for cloud hosting fees to become exorbitant if container settings are not correctly configured. To prevent disruption from other devices on the local area network, dedicated servers or a cluster of servers on a private network should be established. Such measures will ensure that your team of developers can safely experiment with container development in this setup.
Docker
It is not advised to introduce your engineers to Kubernetes, as it is more complex than alternatives such as Docker. Thus, Docker is the most efficient and uncomplicated method for comprehending containers. Docker is a free containerization software that can be conveniently installed on a local server or desktop computer – enabling your engineers to learn and develop container applications and deployments with ease. Alternatively, Podman can serve as a suitable replacement for Docker, and still provide support for Kubernetes integration – even if Docker cannot be installed on your chosen operating system.
Docker for Desktop
Docker Desktop for Applications is a commercial container management system that is developed with an instinctive graphical user interface. It provides numerous benefits, including the ability to set up a complete Docker and Kubernetes environment on platforms such as macOS. This makes it an excellent option for those seeking to work with containerized applications, without needing to install the more intricate Kubernetes on multiple platforms for learning purposes.
Portainer
Portainer is an exceptional GUI tool which can be installed on a server and accessed through a web browser, thereby enabling the entire development team to enjoy its benefits. With its focus on team collaboration and cooperation, it represents a great option for larger workplaces with more interdependent work environments. Additionally, Portainer provides businesses of all sizes with a free-of-charge alternative to Docker Desktop, delivering further benefits.
Regional Archive
Establishing a local image repository can serve as a valuable resource when training new container users. Newbie container developers tend to download images from DockerHub indiscriminately, which could unintentionally lead to the acquisition of a harmful image. This is not the ideal training practice – therefore, creating a local repository provides an excellent opportunity to teach developers about sound container development practices and the significance of container security – despite the additional effort required.
Training Programmes
A simple web search will reveal an abundance of educational resources available for container development. To ensure that your engineers are suitably equipped for delving into the vast world of containerization, it is recommended that they receive introductory training to learn the basics. Undertaking a course on container usage can prove beneficial for any developer’s initial learning experience, with potential long-term gains for your organization as an investment.
Linux
As technology evolves, it is essential for your development team to become familiar with Linux. By providing them with a Linux test environment, they can deepen their understanding of containers and the Linux operating system – crucial to creating and deploying containers. In most cases, deploying containers will require the use of a Linux container operating on a cloud provider’s virtual machine.
Conclusion
Acquiring comprehensive knowledge of container technology can be a challenging endeavor. To ensure that your developers have a seamless learning experience and gain proficiency quickly, it is important to provide them with the necessary preparation and tools. It is also vital to have developers who can manage both the container development and deployment environments.
Empower developers with the essential resources to ensure they get off on the right foot for the project. It is understandable that those new to container technology may require some time to familiarize themselves. Therefore, it is important to exercise patience and allow them to gain proficiency.
