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Docker
“Run any service with one command, without installing anything on your machine.”
From €0Try Docker
Quick summary
Ideal forAny web, backend or DevOps developer who wants reproducible environments
Use caseContainerize apps, run local databases, deploy to production
Strength"It works on my machine" → it works everywhere, contractual guarantee
WeaknessDocker Desktop uses 2 to 4 GB of RAM on macOS (a Linux VM under the hood)
Docker has become the de facto standard. No more installing Postgres, Redis or any service locally: everything runs in containers, reproducible and isolated.
Pros & cons
Pros
- 100% reproducible environment: `docker compose up` and the whole stack is ready in <30s
- Perfect isolation: each project has its own versions of Node, Python, databases
- Docker Hub: thousands of official images (postgres, redis, nginx, etc.) available immediately
- Docker Compose: orchestrate several services with a single YAML file
- The base of all modern deployments: Coolify, Kamal, Fly.io, Railway all use Docker
Cons
- Docker Desktop uses 2 to 4 GB of RAM on macOS (via an embedded Linux VM)
- Learning curve: volumes, networks, permissions take time
- Paid Desktop license for companies with >250 employees
- Builds sometimes slow without a properly configured cache
Pricing
Personal
€0/month
- Docker Desktop (personal use)
- Unlimited public Docker Hub
- 1 private image
- Full open source Docker Engine
- Not allowed for companies with >250 employees or >$10M in revenue
Individual developers, students, open source
Best value
Pro
€5/month
or €4.17/month
- Docker Desktop (professional use)
- Unlimited private images on Hub
- Docker Scout access (security analysis)
Freelance or professional developers
Team
€15/user/month
or €11.67/user/month
- Team management and permissions
- Docker Build Cloud included
- Audit logs
Development teams
Main features
Docker Compose
Define and run several containers with a single YAML file
Start a whole stack (app + database + cache + queue) with a single command
Docker Hub
Public image registry with thousands of maintained official images
Instantly pull postgres:16, redis:7, node:20-alpine, nginx, etc.
Volumes
Data persistence across container restarts
Keep database data even after `docker compose down`
Multi-stage builds
Build lightweight production images in several stages
Final image without build dependencies: often 3 to 5× lighter
Docker Scout
Automatic vulnerability analysis of images
Detect CVEs before pushing to production
Limit: Advanced features on the Pro plan
Comparison with the alternatives
Each alternative has its own page. See all comparisons.
Podman
Better at:Daemonless (no background process), rootless by default, Red Hat compliance
Worse at:Smaller ecosystem, less mature Docker Compose (podman-compose)
Podman for secure Linux environments. Docker for universal compatibility.
OrbStack (macOS)
Better at:Much lighter than Docker Desktop on macOS (2× less RAM), fast startup
Worse at:Paid ($8/month), less well known, smaller ecosystem
OrbStack if macOS performance is critical. Docker Desktop if you want the standard.
Compatibility
Frequently asked questions
Is Docker free?
Docker Engine (CLI) is open source and free. Docker Desktop is free for personal use. Paid for companies with >250 employees.
What is the difference between Docker and a virtual machine?
A VM emulates a full OS. Docker shares the host kernel: much lighter and faster to start (seconds vs minutes).
Does Docker work in production?
Yes. It is the base of Kubernetes, Coolify, Kamal, Fly.io and most modern deployment platforms.
Does Docker work offline?
Yes, once the images are downloaded. A connection is only needed to pull new images.
Final verdict
Value for money: Excellent
“The de facto standard for development environments. Impossible to go without once you manage several projects.”
I recommend it toAny web, backend or DevOps developer. Essential as soon as you touch several services.
Not suited forA simple script with no external dependencies: overkill in that case.