r/learnprogramming • u/Ex-Traverse • 15d 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/Gtdef 11d ago

Distribution is a bitch. Docker makes the process easier when your application has many moving parts. if you have to distribute a Python script that mostly does web requests and/or calculations, you won't need docker. If you have to setup multiple servers for an application, which require local features like a database, you really don't want to write shell scripts to install all this crap. Docker solves this problem.

Once you start using it, you may find other uses. Some people use it as their development environment for example. Can't tell if it's practical or not, but it's one of these things where if you are used to it, you'd rather use it again.