Docker Installation & Setup Guide

What is Docker?

Docker is a platform for developing, shipping, and running applications in containers. A container packages an application and all its dependencies into a standardized unit, ensuring it works seamlessly across environments.

Prerequisites

A system with internet access
Admin or sudo privileges on your machine
Windows 10/11 (Pro/Enterprise) or macOS/Linux

Installing Docker on Windows

Download Docker Desktop from Docker Official Site.
Run the installer and follow the setup wizard.
Ensure WSL 2 is installed and enabled (for Windows Home).
After installation, restart your system if prompted.
Launch Docker Desktop and wait for it to start.

Installing Docker on macOS

Download Docker Desktop for Mac from the official website.
Open the downloaded .dmg file and drag Docker to Applications.
Launch Docker and follow the setup instructions.

Installing Docker on Linux (Ubuntu)

Run the following commands in your terminal:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install apt-transport-https ca-certificates curl software-properties-common
curl -fsSL https://download.docker.com/linux/ubuntu/gpg | sudo gpg --dearmor -o /usr/share/keyrings/docker.gpg
echo "deb [arch=$(dpkg --print-architecture) signed-by=/usr/share/keyrings/docker.gpg] \
https://download.docker.com/linux/ubuntu $(lsb_release -cs) stable" \
| sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/docker.list > /dev/null

sudo apt update
sudo apt install docker-ce docker-ce-cli containerd.io

Verify Docker Installation

Run this command to check if Docker is installed correctly:

docker --version

Expected output should look like Docker version 24.0.5, build deadbeef

Run Your First Docker Container

Let’s run a hello-world container to test:

docker run hello-world

If Docker is set up correctly, you'll see a welcome message from Docker!