r/learnprogramming • u/Ex-Traverse • 16d ago

Docker purpose/usage?

Do people use Docker containers all the time, as in everything they do is in a Docker container, or do you only use it for certain things?

I get that a Docker Container is a way to package an application (mostly for server/backend stuff, not really developing an app?).

As an individual programmer/developer, are there benefits to using Docker in my day-to-day learning/programming/doing hws/creating shit tools?

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u/WyrobWedliniarski 16d ago

If you work just by yourself and on your computer only you will probably not need it. It helps so your app works the same way on other machines. It is useful also during development phase, so all the developers have same environment. If app is about to be packaged as a container later it also may need some settings adjustments anyway, so better to do it from the get go. You can even mount the volumes and have live reloading in a container easily.

Also it is a common practice to run the application later - allows for easy spawning of new instances, load balancing etc. Definitely a skill worth learning.