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Learn Docker

Learn Docker through prerequisites, core workflows, projects, troubleshooting, and production practices.

Best for

  • Packaging applications with repeatable runtime dependencies
  • Local development environments and CI jobs
  • Deploying services as containers

Prerequisites

  • Basic command-line skills
  • Understand processes, ports, files, and environment variables
  • Know how the application you want to containerize starts and stores data

Learning sequence

Recommended Learning Order

  1. 1

    Stage 1

    Images, containers, registries, and the Docker CLI

  2. 2

    Stage 2

    Write Dockerfiles, understand build context, layers, and cache

  3. 3

    Stage 3

    Ports, environment variables, bind mounts, volumes, and container networks

  4. 4

    Stage 4

    Docker Compose for multi-container development

  5. 5

    Stage 5

    Security, image size, health checks, logs, troubleshooting, and deployment

Study Timeline

3 hours/week

Containerize one simple application and inspect every Dockerfile instruction.

6 hours/week

Add volumes, networks, Compose, and troubleshooting exercises.

10 hours/week

Build a multi-service environment, optimize images, and practice CI/deployment workflows.

Project Progression

Beginner: Dockerfile for a small web application

Intermediate: app + database with volumes and a private Docker network

Portfolio: multi-stage production image with health check, non-root user, Compose development stack, and CI build

Common Mistakes

  • Copying the entire repository before dependency installation and losing build-cache efficiency
  • Writing persistent data inside an ephemeral container layer instead of a volume
  • Publishing unnecessary ports
  • Running application processes as root when it is not required
  • Confusing an image with a running container

Job-Ready Skills

  • Dockerfile design
  • Image builds and registries
  • Container lifecycle
  • Volumes and bind mounts
  • Container networking
  • Compose, security, logs, and troubleshooting

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a Docker image and a container?

An image is an immutable packaged filesystem and configuration. A container is a running or stopped instance created from an image with its own runtime state.

When should I use a Docker volume?

Use a volume when data must survive container replacement, especially for databases and other persistent application data.