What is our primary use case?
My main use case for Docker on Ubuntu 18.04 LTS involves several cases of use, starting with sharing software with our suppliers and gradually transferring everything to Docker for our software. We have a web tool made in PHP and MySQL, and we are transferring that along with all scripts made in C# and Python to Docker, slowly moving everything to Docker.
Regarding my main use cases for Docker on Ubuntu 18.04 LTS, we are quite basic in the sense that we have tried several architectures and ways of using Docker, but ultimately, using Docker with basic Docker Compose is sufficient for us. We do not need very complex architectures since our customers are not numerous, and we have many quick changes in our software. We use Docker with Docker Compose as basic infrastructure, and we have bought our own servers at this point—no longer using Azure because the global team was too difficult to work with due to cybersecurity issues and other reasons. Now we have our own network with a failover server and a running server, and Docker and Docker Compose are simple solutions that work well for us.
What is most valuable?
The best features Docker on Ubuntu 18.04 LTS offers for me include the main feature that we can have more than one operating system on the same server, so we do not have to worry about which version of languages are installed. Another important feature is that we can buy software from our suppliers and receive it in Docker, which helps avoid setting up the server ourselves as we had to in the past. The main features of Docker are that it is very quick to set up a project, and these very basic features are the most important and we appreciate them.
Docker on Ubuntu 18.04 LTS positively impacts my organization because we have sped up our development very quickly, and our team has grown quickly, not only because of Docker but also due to Docker. We have improved the reliability of our servers and the quality of our work, allowing us to commission more tasks because we can work more quickly, resulting in an improvement and a gain in money for our team and our company.
What needs improvement?
Regarding how Docker on Ubuntu 18.04 LTS can be improved, I do not have any ideas at this time as it is up to Docker to develop new features. Right now, it is working fine for us. Another thing I want to mention that I appreciate very much is the integration with Visual Code, as I have seen many features in Visual Code such as Dev Container and extensions. The improvements may lean towards usage in Visual Code and the integration with AI that already exists, which could be improved to create a more user-friendly experience as we move forward. An additional potential improvement is that operating systems such as Windows and Linux should have Docker installed by default. I foresee that in the future you will not buy Windows and install Docker, but you will have Docker pre-installed within Windows and also within Linux.
Regarding needed improvements, I am currently completely dependent on AI for support. I do not even look at tutorials anymore. Anything towards documentation must be geared towards AI, and perhaps there could be an agent trained specifically for Docker. I do not know if AI will develop specific agents for distinct issues, but at this moment, I learn and understand Docker entirely through AI. I believe that is the direction we are heading.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using Docker on Ubuntu 18.04 LTS for eight years, more or less.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
Regarding Docker on Ubuntu 18.04 LTS's reliability, I find its accuracy and reliability of output to be very reliable. As long as you perform tasks correctly, and once you understand how it works and how to use it, it operates well. You do need a bit more computation power, an additional amount of RAM, and CPU power, but just a little bit more. If you can meet those hardware requirements, Docker works fine, and I have not experienced any bugs or strange issues. It performs as expected with just a minor consideration for hardware improvements.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
I did not use a different solution before Docker on Ubuntu 18.04 LTS as there was no solution in place.
How was the initial setup?
We just installed Docker on Ubuntu 18.04 LTS. It is not something we purchased, as it is free.
What was our ROI?
I have not seen a return on investment that I can quantify, and I do not have specific metrics to share regarding fewer employees needed, money saved, or time saved.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
Regarding pricing, setup cost, and licensing, my experience is that I believe it is free.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
Before choosing Docker on Ubuntu 18.04 LTS, I did not evaluate other options as there simply were no Docker solutions that I considered, just the normal approaches.
What other advice do I have?
I decided to start moving everything over to Docker mainly for consistency and ease of deployment. Everything started with a global team from Alstom that was made up of Indian team members. They taught us Docker because we had this global team that, instead of buying new servers, used Azure as an infrastructure. The reason was curiosity to understand Azure infrastructure, and after collaborating with this Indian team and learning about Docker and Kubernetes, we saw it was very useful, so we started using it. Also, our suppliers that make software for us also use it, and I think Docker is now a necessary part of our job that we will not return from.
It is tough to measure such outcomes or improvements, and it is also difficult to share them in conversation. I think the improvements are obvious, but I do not have elements to give numerical outputs of how much these improvements and savings are, and at least I cannot do it with precision to provide a reliable output that is correct. The improvements are difficult to quantify at this moment.
Regarding Docker on Ubuntu 18.04 LTS's governance and security, I do not know much about security in general. I cannot say if there are malicious hackers involved. As far as I use it, there is basically no difference. The container environment does not increase the risks, nor does it decrease them. I believe the risks remain the same whether using Docker or not. Docker and Kubernetes with their best practices might enhance certain aspects regarding passwords and secrets, but I do not think Docker itself can significantly improve cybersecurity performance since you must also be cautious when using Docker. I am providing this review with an overall rating of ten out of ten.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
If public cloud, private cloud, or hybrid cloud, which cloud provider do you use?
Microsoft Azure
