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The Best Online Courses for Learning Docker in 2023

We spent several hundred hours meticulously testing and reviewing several dozen Docker courses from various vendors around the web. Here are the absolute best online Docker courses available right now.

Updated: September 1, 2023

Docker Mastery with Kubernetes & Swarm from a Docker Captain

Docker Mastery with Kubernetes & Swarm from a Docker Captain

Udemy

By Bret Fisher

$$$ (subscription or one-time purchase)
VIDEOS | EXERCISES | QUIZZES | READINGS

Bottom Line

Highly practical and comprehensive resource for learning Docker foundations.

This Course Is Great For

  • Practical Application
  • Real-world Examples
  • Learning Docker and Kubernetes
  • Solo Practice

The course covers a broad spectrum of Docker topics, ranging from foundational concepts to advanced use cases. It immerses learners in Docker's world, providing them with a solid understanding of containers and Docker's ecosystem.

One of the course's standout features is assignments. At the end of each module, the assignment asks you to apply your skills in a real-world scenario. After completing the assignment, you’ll be able to watch a solution video to see step by step how the author would do the assignment.

This course also goes deep into how to automate Docker and Kubernetes with GitHub Actions to create a Continuous Integration pipeline.

The course also includes valuable resources such as downloadable Docker Compose files, Docker cheat sheets, and access to a dedicated community. These resources enhance the learning experience and provide ongoing support for learners.

Before You Buy

The second half of the course consists of supplementary resources, including conference talks and Q&As. If you're just looking to get up and running with using Docker professionally, you may not get a lot of value from these sections.

Rather than create a wholesale new version of the course, the instructor has updated the course many times since its release. Some users complained that a few sections are still a bit outdated, and that the course quality is a bit inconsistent between old sections and updated sections. It should be noted the course has received updates in most areas.

Go to Course

Why Learn Docker

Docker is a platform that simplifies the process of developing, deploying, and running applications. It uses containerization technology to package an application and its dependencies into a standardized unit called a container. These containers can run consistently across different environments, making it easier for developers to build, test, and deploy applications, while also enhancing scalability and resource efficiency.

Docker is among the most popular developer tools according to Stack Overflow's 2023 Developer Survey, so it's an essential skill to learn and will greatly enhance your ability to work on modern large-scale applications.

Key Topics to Learn

To get started with Docker professionally, focus on these foundational topics:

  1. Docker Fundamentals: Understanding containers, images, and basic Docker commands is essential for anyone working with Docker.
  2. Dockerfile: Knowing how to create Docker images is a foundational skill, as it's crucial for defining the environment in which your applications run.
  3. Docker Compose: Compose is valuable for local development and creating multi-container applications. It's a practical skill to have early in your Docker journey.
  4. Docker Networking: Basic networking knowledge is important for connecting containers, especially if you plan to deploy multi-container applications.
  5. Docker Volumes: Learning how to manage data persistence in containers is essential for many real-world applications.
  6. Docker Security: Understanding security best practices is critical from the beginning to ensure your containers are secure.
  7. Docker Registry: Knowing how to publish and share Docker images is fundamental, especially if you collaborate with others or deploy containers to the cloud.
  8. Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment (CI/CD): Integrating Docker into CI/CD pipelines is valuable for automation and ensuring consistent builds.

These foundational topics will give you a strong start in working with Docker. As you gain experience and progress in your career, you can then delve into more advanced topics such as container orchestration (Kubernetes), monitoring, and advanced security configurations. These advanced topics are typically necessary when working on larger-scale and production-grade applications. Start with the basics, build your skills, and expand your Docker knowledge as needed for your specific projects and roles.

Prerequisites for Learning Docker

Docker is a fairly accessible technology even for beginners.

This guide is specifically written for aspiring and practicing full stack developers, so we do recommend that in your full stack developer journey, that you learn Docker after learning frontend development with HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and a JavaScript framework like React, Angular, or Vue, along with the foundations of a full stack language like Node or Python, and how to work with RESTful APIs.

Besides those topics, having some basic knowledge of the following concepts can be helpful, but again aren't required:

Linux Basics: Docker relies on Linux containers, so having a basic understanding of Linux commands, file systems, and permissions is advantageous.

Command Line Interface (CLI): Familiarity with the command line interface (CLI) is important, as you'll be using Docker commands to create and manage containers.

Networking: Basic knowledge of networking concepts, such as IP addresses and ports, can be beneficial when working with Docker's networking features.

Version Control: Familiarity with version control systems like Git is helpful for managing Docker configurations and images.

Containers and Virtualization Concepts: Having a high-level understanding of containerization and virtualization concepts can aid in grasping Docker's purpose and benefits. Most tutorials will cover this at a high level when introducing Docker.

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