# Docker - A Must Have

You begin to wonder why specific topics continue to appear on your screen time and again.  Docker and Kubernetes seemingly appear whenever I start searching and delving deeper into a subject.

I understand why now that I've been playing with Docker for a while.  It's a fantastic ecosystem of its own.

Download Docker and create an account.  Docker is free for individuals, and you can upgrade your account from "Personal" to one of the paid tiers, including Pro, Team, and Business.

Once you've installed Docker, run the Docker Desktop to manage images, containers, volumes, and development environments.

It is a simple matter to download a docker image and create a container.  Open a terminal session on your machine and enter the following command at the prompt:  ```docker pull ubuntu```.

![image.png](https://cdn.hashnode.com/res/hashnode/image/upload/v1660787693560/yol41UjC_.png align="center")

When you sign in to your docker account, you can choose from a large variety of "images" to run on your machine.   Click on the "Explore" option on the main menu and enter "python" in the search bar.  A selection of images appears.

Click on the "python (Docker Official Image)," and a new page appears where you'll find instructions for setting up and using this image on your machine.

In a terminal, type:  ```docker pull python``` as pictured below.

![image.png](https://cdn.hashnode.com/res/hashnode/image/upload/v1660823219705/glpPqhoRS.png align="center")

Crystal is one of my more recent language interests, so I downloaded an image in kind.

![image.png](https://cdn.hashnode.com/res/hashnode/image/upload/v1660794943194/bVeXfxWY-.png align="center")

# Docker Desktop

We can immediately see the Images on our Docker Desktop.

![image.png](https://cdn.hashnode.com/res/hashnode/image/upload/v1660823322298/YFCde6QCM.png align="center")

To use an image, hover over the image and click run:

![image.png](https://cdn.hashnode.com/res/hashnode/image/upload/v1660823431420/tOdegX2wp.png align="center")


![image.png](https://cdn.hashnode.com/res/hashnode/image/upload/v1660823641105/QkKBgebQx.png align="left")

When we click "run," several symbols appear terminal, pause, refresh, stop, and trash.

![image.png](https://cdn.hashnode.com/res/hashnode/image/upload/v1660823667975/8cesLFaFP.png align="left")

We can access our Python image if we click on the terminal button.  At the "#" prompt, type ```python``` and a python terminal session should start as pictured below.

![image.png](https://cdn.hashnode.com/res/hashnode/image/upload/v1660823938151/mh85l7l5J.png align="left")

We're all set and good to go.

# Related Articles and Resources

[Free Docker Complete Course (3-Hour)](https://dev.to/techworld_with_nana/full-docker-course-free-4hl3).  [Video](https://youtu.be/3c-iBn73dDE)

- [Docker Explained - An Introductory Guide to Docker](https://dzone.com/articles/docker-explained-an-introductory-guide-to-docker) by Sahiti Kappagantula (October 19, 2019).