Dockerizing Applications: A Comprehensive Study of Portability, Isolation, Scalability, and Versioning

Abstract

Docker has revolutionized the landscape of application deployment by offering a lightweight, efficient, and scalable containerization solution. This paper presents a comprehensive study focused on the key aspects of Dockerizing applications, namely portability, isolation, scalability, and versioning. The study begins by examining the concept of portability within Docker environments, highlighting how Docker facilitates seamless deployment across diverse platforms and environments. Subsequently, it delves into the crucial aspect of isolation, elucidating Docker's mechanisms for ensuring application isolation and security. The paper explores Docker's role in enhancing application scalability, both horizontally and vertically. It discusses container orchestration tools like Kubernetes and Docker Swarm, which enable efficient management of scalable deployments. The paper addresses the challenges and strategies associated with versioning in Dockerized environments. It discusses best practices for managing Docker images, tagging, and version control, alongside exploring continuous integration and deployment practices. Through an extensive review of literature and practical examples, this study not only provides insights into the current state of Docker adoption but also identifies emerging trends and challenges. It underscores the importance of considering portability, isolation, scalability, and versioning in Dockerized applications, offering valuable implications for both industry practitioners and researchers alike.