Get Your Docker Game On: A Step-by-Step Installation Guide

You've decided to jump on the Docker bandwagon - good call! Docker offers a streamlined platform for developers to build, package, and distribute applications in neatly compartmentalized containers. Now you're probably thinking, "Great, how do I get it up and running on my system?" Fear not, intrepid coder, this guide has got you covered.

Before We Dive In

We're going to install Docker on a Debian-based system. This guide assumes you've got a pretty good handle on using the terminal and the sudo command. The process may vary a bit if you're using a different Linux distribution.

Let's Clean Up

Before we install Docker's latest and greatest version, we need to ensure any older or related packages aren't lurking around.

for pkg in docker.io docker-doc docker-compose podman-docker containerd runc; do sudo apt-get remove $pkg; done

Get the Latest Packages

Next, we'll update our system's package index:

sudo apt-get update

And install necessary certificates and curl:

sudo apt-get install ca-certificates curl gnupg

Prepare for Docker's Arrival

We need to set up a directory for Docker's keyring:

sudo install -m 0755 -d /etc/apt/keyrings

Next, we fetch Docker’s official GPG key:

curl -fsSL https://download.docker.com/linux/debian/gpg | sudo gpg --dearmor -o /etc/apt/keyrings/docker.gpg

Then, we adjust permissions:

sudo chmod a+r /etc/apt/keyrings/docker.gpg

Set Up Docker's Repository

Time to add Docker's apt repository to your system:

echo \
  "deb [arch="$(dpkg --print-architecture)" signed-by=/etc/apt/keyrings/docker.gpg] https://download.docker.com/linux/debian \
  "$(. /etc/os-release && echo "$VERSION_CODENAME")" stable" | \
  sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/docker.list > /dev/null

Update the Package Index Again

Now, we update our package index again to include Docker's repository:

sudo apt-get update

Install Docker

At last, the moment you've been waiting for - time to install Docker:

sudo apt-get install docker-ce docker-ce-cli containerd.io docker-buildx-plugin docker-compose-plugin -y

Verify Your Installation

To ensure everything is shipshape, let's run a quick test:

sudo docker run hello-world

If everything went as planned, you should see a friendly greeting from Docker. Congratulations! You're now ready to start your containerized journey.

Just remember, while Docker is incredibly powerful, it's also complex. So, take your time, practice safe coding, and have fun exploring!

Remember that these instructions are specifically for Debian-based systems. For other distributions or operating systems, the installation process may be different. Always consult the official Docker documentation for the most accurate information.

Next Steps:

Want to change where Docker stores things? Check out my re-location guide