Free development tool app
Docker Desktop is a free native Windows app for the building and sharing of containerised applications.
Building apps within Docker containers makes it extremely easy to build, transfer and run them in any host environment. Similar applications include Singularity, App Builder, or BitNami Application Stacks.
What is Docker Desktop?
It’s a tool for building, deploying, and running applications across various platforms and hosting options. It’s made possible by creating the app or service in containers. As the app works with Docker Hub, you'll get access to all the tools needed to build apps, including templates and certified images.
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Once you’ve created your containerised app or service, you can choose whether to host it on a desktop, in a data centre or in the cloud. Wherever you store it, you won’t need to provide any additional software to make it work.
What does it cost?
There’s a free Docker plan and three paid subscription plans. As usual, the free plan is basic and quite light on options. If that’s not enough, one of the monthly paid plans is bound to meet your needs.
What is Kubernetes vs Docker?
With Kubernetes and Docker, there’s no ‘versus’ element because they’re entirely different kinds of software. In fact, Kubernetes is included in Docker Desktop, and as a result, Docker keeps it updated.
Imagine you’ve built a service that comprises several containerized apps. The more complex the structure of your service becomes, the more complicated it is to manage and run due to the many dependencies involved. That’s where Kubernetes comes in.
Docker is an excellent tool for creating ‘stacked’ containers, and Kubernetes is the technology used to manage and run them efficiently.
The ‘go-to’ app for creators
There are other apps for containerising apps and services, such as Singularity or BitNami Application Stacks. However, Docker has a huge variety of programming languages and development tools to pick from. With an easy-to-use development environment, you can start coding and containerising in minutes, so it’s no surprise that Docker Desktop is the most widely used app-building program.
