Earlier this year, Docker surpassed Linux in GitHub pull requests. That’s a pretty clear signal of the popularity and potential of the project. What is Docker? You may ask. Docker is a program that allows you to create and manage containers. Containers allow you to isolate applications from one another and the underlying operating system. This can be helpful for development, testing, and deployment because it provides an easy way to package and ship your applications with all their dependencies.
We know Docker helps you run your applications lightweight and portable way. But what do you do once you've learned the basics? In this article, we will explore 10 Docker project ideas to take your skills to the next level. But are all your skills up to the mark? Do any of these projects interest you? We will help you get through everything. Keep reading to find out more!
List of Top 10 Docker Projects of 2024
Here's a complete list of most popular docker projects to practice in 2024:
- Docker craft
- Memcached SaaS Using Docker
- RancherVM
- KubeVirt
- Dockerfile_lint
- Dockermix
- Dokku
- Docker-Mon
- Jenkins
- Passenger-Docker
10 Best Docker Project Ideas [For All Levels]
There are many ways you can use Docker to improve your development workflow and increase your productivity. Here are 10 of the best Docker project ideas to get you started:
1. Docker craft
Docker craft is a project that allows you to use Docker containers to host Minecraft servers. This is a great option for those who want the advantages of Docker (e.g., portability, easy deployment, etc.) but don't want to use VMs. Dockercraft uses the same technology that's used to power Heroku's container-based architecture, so it's extremely scalable and reliable.
To get started, you'll need to create a new 'Dockercraft' folder and then clone the Dockercraft repository into it. Next, you'll need to edit the 'Docker-compose.yml' file to specify your desired Minecraft version and memory limit. Finally, you can launch your server by running 'Docker compose up'. That's it! Your server will be up and running in no time.
Here is the source code for Docker craft.
2. Memcached SaaS Using Docker
Memcached is a distributed memory caching system that is often used to speed up dynamic web applications by reducing the database load. Memcached SaaS is a cloud-based service that allows you to easily deploy and manage Memcached servers. With Memcached SaaS, you can elastically scale your Memcached servers, and pay only for the resources you use.
Additionally, Memcached SaaS provides a number of features that make it easy to manage your Memcached servers, including auto-scaling, monitoring, and backup/restore. If you are looking for a Docker project that is both challenging and impactful, consider creating a Memcached SaaS using Docker.
Here is the source code for Memcached SaaS.
3. RancherVM
RancherVM is a lightweight virtualization solution for Docker that enables you to run Docker remove containers on a single host. RancherVM provides an easy way to provision and manage virtual machines (VMs) on a Rancher host.
You can use RancherVM to create and manage VMs that run on top of any supported hypervisor, such as KVM, Xen, or VMware. RancherVM supports all major Linux distributions, including Ubuntu, CentOS, Debian, and Fedora. In addition, RancherVM can be used to provision Windows Server 2016 and Windows 10 containers.
RancherVM is available as a standalone product or as part of the Rancher platform. Rancher is an open-source container management platform that includes support for multi-tenancy, role-based access control, and auditing. Rancher also provides an easy way to deploy and manage Kubernetes clusters. You can learn more about Rancher by visiting the website or checking out the documentation.
Here is the source code for RancherVM.
4. KubeVirt
KubeVirtKubeVirt is a project that aims to provide heavy virtualization capabilities on top of Kubernetes. It does this by using the existing kernel virtualization mechanisms and adding a new virt-api layer to expose those capabilities via libvirt. This opens up a whole world of possibilities for running complex workloads on top of Kubernetes.
KubeVirt is still under active development, but it is already usable for many common workloads. For a Docker project example, KubeVirt can be used to run workloads that require high performance and low latency, such as video processing or gaming servers.
Additionally, KubeVirt can be used to run legacy applications that are not container-friendly. By using KubeVirt, you can get the best of both worlds: the flexibility and scalability of Kubernetes with the added benefits of vSphere-level virtualization. If you are in search of a challenging and rewarding Docker project, KubeVirt is a great choice.
Here is the source code for KubeVirt.
5. Dockerfile_lint
A Dockerfile is a fundamental building block used when Dockerizing applications. It is a text document that contains all the commands a user could call on the Docker compose command line to assemble a Docker run image. A linter is a tool that analyses code to identify programming bugs, errors & suspicious constructs.
Dockerfile_lint is an open-source project that uses Golang to validate Dockerfiles for best practices. The purpose of the project is to make it easier for developers to create well-crafted Dockerfiles. The project is still in development, but it is already possible to use the tool to check for common errors in Dockerfiles.
In the future, it will be possible to use the tool to automatically fix errors in Dockerfiles. This will make it easier for developers to create high-quality images that are less likely to cause problems in production.
Here is the source code for Dockerfile_lint.
6. Dockermix
Dockermix is a great project idea for those looking to get started with Docker. The project provides a set of tools and templates for using Docker in development and production environments. It also includes a number of Docker best practices for configuring and deploying Docker applications.
With Dockermix, you can specify the base image, the dependencies, and the versions of each component. Dockermix will then build the environment for you, ensuring that all of the components are compatible. This makes it easy to create complex development environments without having to worry about compatibility issues.
Here is the source code for Dockermix.
7. Dokku
MediumDokku is a great project for anyone seeking to learn more about DevOps and containerization. Dokku is a self-hosted platform that allows you to deploy and manage Docker containers. It is similar to other popular platforms, such as Heroku and Deis, but it is much simpler to set up and use.
Dokku uses a simple Git push workflow to deploy applications, making it easy to get started with. In addition, Dokku provides a wide range of features such as automatic SSL generation and support for multiple domains. As a result, Dokku is an ideal platform for learning about containerization and DevOps. Moreover, you can also look for DevOps certification online courses that will surely assist you with your learning curve taken to the next level.
Here is the source code for Dokku.
8. Docker-Mon
Docker-Mon is a monitoring tool designed to help you keep track of your Docker containers. It can be used to monitor multiple containers at once, and it provides a variety of features to make monitoring your Docker infrastructure easy. One of the key features of Docker-Mon is its ability to send alerts when an issue is detected.
This means that you can be notified immediately if something goes wrong with your containers, and you can take action to fix the problem. Another useful feature of Docker-Mon is its Container Health panel. This panel gives you an overview of the health of all your containers, and it can be used to quickly identify issues that need to be addressed. Overall, Docker-Mon is one of the best Docker projects for beginners who want to keep their Docker infrastructure running smoothly.
Here is the source code for Docker-Mon.
9. Jenkins
MediumDocker is a powerful tool that can help you manage and deploy applications more efficiently. If you're looking for some great ideas for Docker projects, Jenkins is a great place to start. Jenkins is a popular open-source automation server that helps you build pipelines to automate the process of building, testing, and deploying software. With Jenkins, you can define your pipeline stages in code and easily configure them to run on a schedule or when certain events occur.
You can also monitor the status of your pipelines and perform actions such as manually triggering builds or rolling back to previous versions. By using Jenkins with Docker, you can easily set up a continuous delivery pipeline that builds your application image, runs tests against it, and then pushes it to a Docker registry for deployments.
You can also use Jenkins to create build slaves that run inside Docker containers, which can help you optimize your build times by running multiple builds concurrently. There are many other great ideas for using Docker with Jenkins, so be sure to explore all the possibilities!
10. Passenger-Docker
When exploring Docker Projects Ideas, you'll find that there are many different ways to use Docker, but one of the most popular is to use it for web development projects. Passenger-Docker is a great option for those looking to containerize their web applications. It is an open source project that makes it easy to deploy and run web applications in Docker containers. The project provides a command line interface that makes it simple to build and run web applications in containers. It also includes a number of features that make it easy to scale your application as your needs grow. If you are considering a great way to containerize your web application, Passenger-Docker is a great option to consider.
Here is the source code for Passenger-Docker.
Docker Starter Project Templates
If you are new to Docker and are looking for Docker project ideas to get started with developing containerized applications, you may find the following project templates helpful. These Docker project ideas provide a starting point for creating applications that can be run in containers.
- Docker Compose File: This template provides a basic Docker-compose.yml file that can be used to start up a simple application consisting of multiple containers.
- Dockerfile: Using this template, you can create an application image using Docker.
- Kubernetes Deployment: This template creates a basic deployment description for Kubernetes clusters.
- Helm Chart: A Helm chart provides a basic framework for deploying apps on Kubernetes Docker clusters.
These are just some of the templates that provide all of the necessary files and configuration options to get your project up and running quickly and easily. These different templates are designed for a specific type of project. Simply choose the template that best suits your needs, download it, and then follow the instructions to get your project up and running. In case you are looking to get a clear understanding on the Kubernetes, get yourself counseled with the best Docker Kubernetes course present now.
5 Skills That Docker Projects Can Help You Practice
If you're looking to get started with Docker, one of the best ways to learn is by working on projects. Not only will you learn about the technology itself, but you'll also get to practice a variety of skills that are essential for running successful Docker list containers.
Here are 5 skills that you can practice by working on Docker projects:
1. Configuration Management
Docker can help you practice several important skills, including configuration management. Configuration management is the process of controlling and managing changes to system configurations. It is an important skill for any DevOps engineer, and Docker can provide a great way to practice.
With Docker, you can define your system configuration as code, which can then be easily versioned and tracked. You can also use Docker to create reproducible builds so that you can always know exactly what configuration is being used.
This can be extremely helpful when troubleshooting issues or trying to replicate production environments. In short, practicing configuration management with Docker can help you develop the skills needed to effectively manage changes to systems.
2. Continuous Integration and Delivery
Continuous Integration and Delivery (CI/CD) is a process by which code changes are automatically built, tested, and deployed to production. This process can help to ensure that software changes are released quickly and safely. Docker can be used to automate the CI/CD process, making it an ideal tool for practicing this important skill.
By configuring a Dockerfile and using a Docker Compose file, developers can easily define and build pipelines that will test and deploy their code changes. In addition, by using the Docker commands, namely Docker composes run, it is possible to run multiple containers simultaneously, allowing for parallel testing of different code changes. As a result, practicing CI/CD can help developers in learning Docker along with how to efficiently and effectively release software changes.
3. Container Orchestration
Container orchestration is all about managing and coordinating multiple containers. This includes tasks such as provisioning, scheduling, networking, and monitoring.
Working on cool Docker projects will help you get better at container orchestration by giving you first-hand experience in managing containers. You'll learn how to use popular tools like Docker Compose and Kubernetes, and you'll develop a better understanding of how to deploy and scale containerized applications.
4. Infrastructure Automation
Developing automated scripts for configuring and managing systems is a key skill for any DevOps engineer. By working on Docker projects, you can practice this essential skill. For example, you can use automation tools like Puppet or Chef to provision and configure Docker hosts.
You can also use shell scripts or other tools to automate the process of building and deploying Docker images. In addition, you can use automation to manage the lifecycle of Docker list containers, including ensuring that they are started and stopped according to schedule. By working on Docker compose projects that involve infrastructure automation, you can hone your skills in this important area.
5. Monitoring and Logging
Monitoring and logging are critical for understanding the performance of any system, and Docker containers are no exception. By default, Docker sends stdout and stderr to the host's journal logs, which can then be collected and monitored using the journalctl command. In addition, the Docker logs command can be used to view the logs of a specific container. However, this only provides a limited view of the container's activity.
To get a more comprehensive understanding of what is happening inside a container, it is necessary to use a third-party tool such as cAdvisor or Prometheus. These tools collect data about container resource usage and performance over time, allowing you to identify trends and pinpoint issues.
In addition, they can be configured to generate alerts when certain thresholds are exceeded. As a result, monitoring and logging are essential skills for anyone working with Docker containers. All in all, it would be wise to look for Docker training and certification to get the best out of your skills.
Getting Your Docker Portfolio Right
The containerization technology called Docker has revolutionized the way applications are deployed. By making it easy to package and deploy applications in self-contained units, Docker has made it possible for developers to focus on writing code, rather than worrying about server configuration and deployment details.
However, just because Docker makes it easy to deploy applications doesn't mean that you can just put any old application into a container and expect it to work. There are still some best practices that you need to follow in order to get your Docker portfolio right.
You can learn to get your best portfolio from Docker tutorial online too but for now, here are some tips for getting your Docker portfolio right:
1. Don't Forget about Security
Just because your application is running in a container doesn't mean that it's automatically secure. You still need to take care of security concerns such as making sure that your containers are up to date with the latest security patches.
2. Make Sure your Applications are Stateless
If you want your applications to be truly scalable, then you need to make sure that they are stateless. This means that your application doesn't rely on any data that is stored locally on the server. All of the data that your application needs should be stored in a central location such as a database.
3. Don't Forget about Logging
Logging is an important part of any application, but it's often overlooked when it comes to containerized applications. Make sure that you have a logging solution in place that will allow you to troubleshoot issues with your applications.
4. Keep your Images Small
The smaller the size of your Docker images, the faster they will be to deploy. Try to keep your images as small as possible by only including the dependencies that your application needs.
5. Use a Private Registry
If you're going to be deploying a lot of Docker containers, then it's a good idea to use a private registry. This will allow you to keep all of your images in one place and make it easier to manage them.
Follow these tips, and you'll be well on your way to having a successful Docker portfolio.
Conclusion
Docker is a powerful tool that has radically changed the way we build, ship, and run applications. It’s no wonder that it has become so popular in such a short amount of time. But like any other technology, Docker can be daunting to get started with. These top 10 Docker project ideas and topics offer a rich playground for learning and applying containerization technology. Whether you're interested in web development, cybersecurity, or infrastructure management, Docker provides a versatile platform for your projects. By exploring these ideas, you can enhance your skills, streamline processes, and contribute to the dynamic world of containerization.