DOCKER - 5 Installation Docker

Time to walk through the real installation. We'll download and install Docker, tweak a few settings, clone the course repository and pick a code editor if you don't already have one. The walk-through is on Windows 10 Pro with Docker CE; the path on Mac is very similar.

Install, configure, verify

Head to store.docker.com, pick Docker CE, then Docker Community Edition for Windows. The default download is the stable channel — scroll down to find the Edge builds if you want the monthly beta instead. The installer is a typical Windows wizard; accept the defaults. On first launch Docker offers to enable Hyper-V, which requires a reboot and local admin rights.

After the reboot, the Docker whale icon appears in the system tray. Open PowerShell and verify the install:

docker version

You'll see the latest stable client and server versions. Under the hood Docker runs a tiny Linux VM called Moby through Hyper-V — visible in the Hyper-V Manager. Right-click the whale, open Settings to tweak the disk Docker uses for images or to allocate more RAM if it ever feels sluggish. Applying changes restarts Docker.

  • Clone the course repository into a folder (the instructor uses docker-code\)
  • Install VS Code — download from the official site, standard Windows install
  • VS Code ships with built-in Dockerfile and docker-compose.yml syntax highlighting and inline hints

With Docker running, your repo cloned and a Docker-aware editor ready, you can follow every hands-on lesson in the rest of the course.

Summary

This lesson covers the complete Docker installation process, including downloading Docker Desktop from the official store, verifying the installation version via PowerShell, and configuring Docker settings such as disk selection. The instructor also recommends installing Visual Studio Code as a code editor due to its native Docker and Docker Compose syntax support, and demonstrates cloning a repository to begin working with Docker projects.

Key points

  • Download Docker Desktop from store.docker.com and complete the standard Windows installation process
  • Verify your Docker installation by running 'docker version' in PowerShell to confirm the latest stable version is installed
  • Configure Docker settings including selecting your preferred disk if your machine has multiple drives; Hyper-V will be automatically installed if needed
  • Clone a Docker repository to a designated folder (e.g., 'code docker') to start your Docker projects
  • Install Visual Studio Code as your code editor, which offers built-in syntax highlighting and support for Dockerfile and Docker Compose files
  • Review Docker application settings and restart the application if any configuration changes are made during setup

FAQ

What is the recommended code editor for Docker development?

Visual Studio Code (VS Code) is recommended as it provides native Docker syntax highlighting, Docker Compose file support, and helpful development features, making it easier to work with Docker projects.

Where do I download Docker Desktop?

Docker Desktop can be downloaded from the official Docker store at store.docker.com. The installation process is standard for Windows applications.

How do I verify that Docker was installed correctly?

After installation, open PowerShell and run the command 'docker version' to verify the installation and confirm you have the latest stable version of Docker installed.