Docker Foundations

Building Modern Containerized Applications in 2 days

Practical Containerization Skills for Modern Developers and IT Professionals

Docker has transformed the way modern applications are built, tested, deployed, and maintained. As organizations increasingly adopt cloud-native architectures, DevOps practices, microservices, and scalable deployment pipelines, containerization has become a core operational requirement rather than a niche engineering skill. Docker provides a lightweight and highly portable platform that enables developers and infrastructure teams to package applications consistently across development, testing, staging, and production environments.

This two-day introductory course is designed to provide participants with a strong practical foundation in Docker technologies, container concepts, and real-world deployment workflows. The training focuses on hands-on operational knowledge aligned with current industry practices, including container image management, Docker networking, storage, Docker Compose, container security considerations, and integration into modern DevOps workflows. Current enterprise trends such as cloud-native development, container security hardening, remote development environments, and Kubernetes integration concepts are also incorporated to ensure relevance to today’s infrastructure landscape.

The course is delivered by an instructor with over 30 years of industry experience who emphasizes practical, production-oriented knowledge and real operational scenarios instead of purely academic theory.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

Understand the principles of containerization and modern application deployment
Differentiate between containers and traditional virtual machines
Install and configure Docker environments on Linux and Windows systems
Work with Docker Engine, Docker Desktop, and Docker CLI tools
Build, manage, and optimize Docker container images
Create and manage Dockerfiles using industry best practices
Deploy and manage standalone containers
Configure Docker networking and persistent storage
Use Docker Compose to manage multi-container applications
Work with Docker Hub and container registries
Understand container security fundamentals and image hardening concepts

Prerequisites

Basic understanding of operating systems and system administration
Familiarity with command-line interfaces
Basic understanding of networking concepts
Exposure to software development or IT infrastructure environments is beneficial
Basic Linux knowledge is recommended but not mandatory
No prior Docker or containerization experience is required

Training Outline

Introduction to Containerization and Modern Application Deployment
1. Evolution of application deployment models
  1. Traditional deployments
  2. Virtual machines versus containers
  3. Infrastructure efficiency challenges
  4. Application portability concerns
  5. Modern cloud-native application requirements
2. Understanding Containerization Concepts
  1. Operating system level virtualization
  2. Container runtime concepts
  3. Isolation and namespaces
  4. Resource allocation and control groups
  5. Stateless versus stateful workloads
3. Docker Overview and Industry Adoption
  1. Docker architecture overview
  2. Docker Engine components
  3. Docker Desktop overview
  4. Docker ecosystem and tooling
  5. Current container industry trends
  6. Cloud-native development practices
  7. Containers in DevOps workflows
  8. Enterprise adoption patterns
4. Containers and Modern Infrastructure
  1. Microservices architecture overview
  2. CI/CD integration concepts
  3. Hybrid cloud deployment models
  4. Remote development environments
  5. Introduction to orchestration platforms
  6. Docker and Kubernetes relationship
Docker Installation and Environment Preparation
1. Docker Installation Procedures
  1. Linux installation workflows
  2. Windows installation workflows
  3. Docker Desktop installation
  4. Verifying Docker installation
  5. Docker version management
2. Docker Environment Configuration
  1. Docker daemon concepts
  2. Docker service management
  3. User permissions and groups
  4. Docker CLI configuration
  5. Environment validation procedures
3. Development Environment Setup
  1. Terminal and shell preparation
  2. Visual Studio Code integration
  3. Docker extensions and plugins
  4. Container development workflows
  5. Local development best practices
Docker Architecture and Core Components
1. Docker Engine Fundamentals
  1. Docker daemon
  2. Docker client
  3. Docker API
  4. Docker runtime operations
  5. Container lifecycle management
2. Docker Objects and Components
  1. Images
  2. Containers
  3. Networks
  4. Volumes
  5. Registries
3. Understanding Container Lifecycle
  1. Creating containers
  2. Starting containers
  3. Stopping containers
  4. Restarting containers
  5. Removing containers
  6. Inspecting running workloads
Working with Docker Images
1. Docker Image Fundamentals
  1. Layered image architecture
  2. Image immutability concepts
  3. Base images and parent images
  4. Official images versus custom images
  5. Image repositories and tags
2. Managing Images
  1. Pulling images from Docker Hub
  2. Searching for images
  3. Tagging images
  4. Removing images
  5. Image inspection operations
3. Docker Hub and Container Registries
  1. Docker Hub overview
  2. Public versus private registries
  3. Authentication and access control
  4. Publishing custom images
  5. Registry operational considerations
4. Image Optimization and Best Practices
  1. Lightweight image selection
  2. Multi-stage builds
  3. Reducing image size
  4. Dependency management
  5. Version consistency strategies
Building Containers with Dockerfiles
1. Dockerfile Fundamentals
  1. Dockerfile syntax
  2. Docker build process
  3. Layer caching concepts
  4. Build context management
  5. Docker build lifecycle
2. Dockerfile Instructions
  1. FROM
  2. RUN
  3. COPY
  4. ADD
  5. CMD
  6. ENTRYPOINT
  7. ENV
  8. EXPOSE
  9. WORKDIR
  10. USER
3. Building Custom Images
  1. Creating application images
  2. Building web server containers
  3. Packaging dependencies
  4. Runtime environment preparation
  5. Image testing procedures
4. Dockerfile Best Practices
  1. Efficient layering
  2. Security considerations
  3. Image maintainability
  4. Build reproducibility
  5. Enterprise image standards
Running and Managing Containers
1. Container Operations
  1. Running containers
  2. Interactive containers
  3. Detached mode operations
  4. Port mappings
  5. Environment variables
  6. Resource constraints
2. Monitoring and Troubleshooting Containers
  1. Viewing logs
  2. Inspecting containers
  3. Container process management
  4. Resource monitoring
  5. Troubleshooting failed containers
3. Executing Commands in Containers
  1. Interactive shell access
  2. Process execution
  3. File inspection
  4. Administrative operations
  5. Debugging workflows
Docker Networking Fundamentals
1. Docker Networking Concepts
  1. Container communication
  2. Bridge networks
  3. Host networking
  4. Overlay networking overview
  5. Network isolation concepts
2. Managing Docker Networks
  1. Creating custom networks
  2. Connecting containers
  3. Network inspection
  4. Service discovery concepts
  5. DNS resolution inside containers
3. Publishing and Exposing Services
  1. Port forwarding
  2. External access configuration
  3. Reverse proxy concepts
  4. Multi-container communication
  5. Security considerations for networking
Docker Storage and Persistent Data
1. Understanding Container Storage
  1. Ephemeral container storage
  2. Persistent data requirements
  3. Storage lifecycle concepts
  4. Data management challenges
2. Docker Volumes
  1. Named volumes
  2. Anonymous volumes
  3. Volume management
  4. Sharing data between containers
  5. Backup considerations
3. Bind Mounts and File Sharing
  1. Host-to-container mappings
  2. Development workflow integration
  3. Configuration management
  4. File permission considerations
  5. Security implications
Multi-Container Applications with Docker Compose
1. Introduction to Docker Compose
  1. Compose architecture
  2. YAML configuration structure
  3. Multi-container application concepts
  4. Service definitions
2. Docker Compose Operations
  1. Starting applications
  2. Stopping services
  3. Scaling containers
  4. Environment variable management
  5. Container dependency handling
3. Building Multi-Service Applications
  1. Web application containers
  2. Database integration
  3. Internal networking
  4. Persistent storage integration
  5. Service orchestration basics
4. Compose Operational Best Practices
  1. Configuration organization
  2. Environment separation
  3. Deployment consistency
  4. Development workflow optimization
Docker Security Fundamentals
1. Container Security Concepts
  1. Container isolation boundaries
  2. Runtime security considerations
  3. Privileged containers
  4. Root versus non-root containers
2. Image Security
  1. Trusted images
  2. Official repositories
  3. Vulnerability scanning concepts
  4. Secure image sourcing
  5. Hardened image concepts
3. Security Best Practices
  1. Least privilege principles
  2. Secret management overview
  3. Limiting attack surfaces
  4. Image update strategies
  5. Security compliance considerations

Disclaimer

This course outline is intended to serve as a general training framework and guideline only. The instructor reserves the right to modify, reorder, expand, condense, or otherwise amend the course content, sequence of topics, practical exercises, and delivery approach as deemed appropriate based on audience profile, participant experience levels, technological updates, operational requirements, and time constraints. Any such adjustments may be made without prior notice in order to ensure the most effective and relevant learning experience.

Practical, connected learning

My wider training approach brings hands-on implementation and systems thinking together, connecting technology with real operational needs.

Docker Foundations