Docker & Containers
Learn about containerization with Docker and related technologies.
Why Containers Changed Everything
Before containers, deploying software meant wrestling with environment inconsistencies - "it works on my machine" was a daily frustration. Docker solved this by packaging applications with everything they need to run, making deployments reproducible from a developer laptop to a production cluster. Today, containers are the standard unit of deployment for startups and enterprises alike.
At Wizard Tech Services, our web development projects are containerized by default, ensuring smooth handoffs and consistent environments. We also help teams containerize existing applications and set up orchestration as part of our automation and infrastructure services.
Containers vs. VMs
Virtual machines emulate entire operating systems and take minutes to boot. Containers share the host OS kernel and start in milliseconds, using a fraction of the memory. Use VMs when you need full OS isolation; use containers for application-level packaging and rapid scaling.
Dev-to-Prod Parity
Use Docker Compose locally and Kubernetes in production to keep your environments as similar as possible. The same Dockerfile builds the same image everywhere, eliminating configuration drift and "works on my machine" bugs.
YAML files define your entire application stack in one place. Learn how docker-compose.yml works, essential Compose commands, and see real-world examples including a modded Valheim game server and a Portainer deployment.
Two ways to run Docker - the Desktop GUI application for Mac/Windows or the command-line Engine on Linux. Compare features, resource usage, and learn which approach fits your workflow.
A web-based management UI for Docker - start, stop, and inspect containers from your browser. Deploy stacks from Compose files, manage multiple hosts, and use app templates for one-click deployments.
Health checks, log aggregation, resource metrics, and alerting for your containers. Covers Docker's built-in logging, Prometheus + Grafana stacks, Uptime Kuma, and terminal tools like ctop and Lazydocker.
Containers package your app, runtime, libraries, and config into one portable unit that runs identically anywhere. Covers the container lifecycle, volumes for persistent data, port mapping, and environment variable injection.
Docker images are built in layers via Dockerfile instructions. Write multi-stage builds for smaller images, tag versions, push to Docker Hub or GitHub Container Registry, and scan for vulnerabilities.
Portainer
A web-based management UI for Docker - manage containers, images, volumes, and networks from your browser.
Portainer is an open-source container management platform that provides a clean web interface for Docker, Docker Swarm, and Kubernetes. Instead of memorizing CLI commands, you can start, stop, inspect, and configure containers through a visual dashboard. Portainer CE (Community Edition) is free for up to 5 environments.
Key Features
- Visual container, image, and volume management
- Deploy stacks from Compose files in the browser
- Real-time container logs and resource stats
- User and team management with RBAC
- App templates for one-click deployments
- Manage multiple Docker hosts from one dashboard
Who It's For
- Homelab users managing self-hosted services
- Small teams who prefer GUI over CLI
- Game server hosts managing multiple containers
- Admins who want centralized multi-host control
Save the following as docker-compose.yml and run docker compose up -d:
services:
portainer:
image: portainer/portainer-ce:latest
container_name: portainer
restart: unless-stopped
ports:
- "9443:9443"
- "8000:8000"
volumes:
- /var/run/docker.sock:/var/run/docker.sock
- portainer_data:/data
environment:
- TZ=America/New_York
volumes:
portainer_data:
driver: local$ docker compose up -d
$ # Open https://localhost:9443
$ # Create your admin account on first visit
Security note: Mounting the Docker socket gives Portainer full control over Docker. In production, restrict access with a reverse proxy and authentication, or use Portainer's built-in RBAC to limit user permissions.
Stacks
Deploy and manage Docker Compose stacks directly in the browser. Paste your YAML, hit deploy, and Portainer handles the rest - including updates and rollbacks.
Container Management
Start, stop, restart, and remove containers. View real-time logs, inspect environment variables, open a console directly in the browser, and monitor CPU/memory usage.
App Templates
One-click deployment of popular apps - WordPress, GitLab, Nextcloud, Pi-hole, and more. Custom templates let you standardize deployments across your team.
Multi-Environment
Connect multiple Docker hosts, Swarm clusters, or Kubernetes environments to a single Portainer instance. Manage everything from one dashboard.