Developing enterprise level applications can be most challenging unless it is backed through microservices architecture. Applications being developed under this architecture can experience rapid deployment with bug-free approach. Microservices allow concentrating on individual components of an application to ensure greater leverage on the overall process.
But, a question may arise that how do these Microservices manage to supplement each and every component with such an efficiency. For this query, the word container is the answer. Containers are the building blocks of a microservices architecture, which, rather than dividing, isolates the resources among application components. A good move, because, if any one of the components fails, it is easier for a developer to move on rather than getting concerned about its effect on other components. Also, instead of a single server, each of these components can be assigned to multiple servers, which makes deployment much easier.
Containers help microservices to move away from the traditional monolithic approach, which is time-consuming as well as onerous. In short, containers induce portability and resiliency in application development. Docker is one such technology which is used in the development and management of these containers.
About Docker
We got a slight idea about Docker, but it would more interesting to know about how the Docker is pitching in for performance enhancement of an application.
Docker, which is an open source tool, is instrumental in managing the containers. But, before moving on further, let us know something about virtualization. In virtualized environment, the resources including a completely isolated operating system will be provided to support application development. On the contrary, but not completely, a Docker surely provides an isolated space but without a complete virtual OS. Docker allows only those components which are not previously deployed. Also, it enables the applications to use same Linux OS from the host system to systematically reduce the magnitude of an application which will be running.
Here are few features or rather we call it as the actions which are performed by Docker,
- Library– libcontainer library, developed by docker.io is a default docker execution environment. This library can extensively support isolation technologies, which, is the core nature of containers.
Libcontainer allows the containers to function with Linux network interfaces, control groups, security profiles, namespaces and other rules without any glitch.
- Integration– Docker can be easily integrated with various cloud platforms, including Google cloud platform, Amazon Web services, and Microsoft Azure etc. Due to the compatibility, the migration between these platforms will be a breeze. Also, the developers will not suffer any kind of setback in maintaining functionality or consistency.
- Version Control & Standardization– Through this concept, the distribution of image across multiple servers is a snap. These images will be developed, tested under docker to have standardization. Similar to GIT repositories, Docker allows an easy upgrading and performs version controlling of the images.
An open source platform, Docker makes an ideal choice for application development and ops practices. In general, developers are sure to face the heat through multiple development phases, but not under Docker. The developer communities are already experiencing the resiliency in their work due to the liberties offered by Docker.
