Docker2.4.0.0

Name: Docker
Rating: 2 (2 reviews)

29 October 2020

Automates deployment of Linux applications in containers.

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Overview

Docker for Mac is an integrated, easy-to-deploy environment for building, assembling, and shipping applications from a Mac, Docker for Mac is a native Mac application architected from scratch, with a native user interface and auto-update capability, deeply integrated with OS X native virtualization, Hypervisor Framework, networking and file system, making it faster and more reliable than previous ways of getting Docker on a Mac.

With Docker for Mac, volume data access works correctly, including file change notifications enabling edit/test cycles for "in container" development. It includes a DNS server for containers, and is integrated with the Mac OS X networking system so that Docker can be used even when connected to a very restrictive corporate VPN.

What's new in Docker

Version 2.4.0.0:

New:

Docker Compose CLI - 0.1.18, enabling use of volumes with Compose and the Cloud through ECS and ACI.
Docker introduces the new Images view in the Docker Dashboard. The images view allows users to view the Hub images, pull them and manage their local images on disk including cleaning up unwanted and unused images. To access the new Images view, from the Docker menu, select Dashboard > Images.
Docker Desktop now enables BuildKit by default after a reset to factory defaults. To revert to the old docker build experience, go to Preferences > Docker Engine and then disable the BuildKit feature.
Amazon ECR Credential Helper
Docker Desktop now uses much less CPU when there are lots of file events on the host and when running Kubernetes, see docker/roadmap#12.
Docker Desktop now uses gRPC-FUSE for file sharing by default. This uses much less CPU than osxfs, especially when there are lots of file events on the host. To switch back to osxfs, go to Preferences > General and disable gRPC-FUSE.

Upgrades:

Docker 19.03.13
Docker Compose 1.27.4
Go 1.14.7
Alpine 3.12
Kubernetes 1.18.8
Qemu 4.2.0

Bug fixes and minor changes:

Docker Desktop on macOS 10.13 is now deprecated.
Removed the legacy Kubernetes context docker-for-desktop. The context docker-desktop should be used instead. Fixes docker/for-win#5089 and docker/for-mac#4089.
Adding the application to the dock and clicking on it will launch the container view if Docker is already running.
Added support for emulating Risc-V via Qemu 4.2.0.
Removed file descriptor limit (setrlimit) of 10240. We now rely on the kernel to impose limits via kern.maxfiles and kern.maxfilesperproc.
Fixed a Mac CPU usage bug by removing the serial console from hyperkit, see docker/roadmap#12. To open a shell in the VM use either nc -U ~/Library/Containers/com.docker.docker/Data/debug-shell.sock.
Copy container logs without ansi colors to clipboard. Fixes docker/for-mac#4786.
Fixed automatic start on log in. See [docker/for-mac#4877] and [docker/for-mac#4890].
Fixed bug where the application won’t start if the username is too long.
Fixed a bug where adding directories like /usr to the filesharing list prevents Desktop from starting. Fixes docker/for-mac#4488
Fixed application startup if hosts is specified inside the Docker daemon.json. See docker/for-win#6895
Docker Desktop always flushes filesystem caches synchronously on container start. See docker/for-mac#4943.
Compose-on-Kubernetes is no longer included in the Docker Desktop installer. You can download it separately from the compose-on-kubernetes release page.

Known issues:

There is a known issue when using docker-compose with named volumes and gRPC FUSE: second and subsequent calls to docker-compose up will fail due to the volume path having the prefix /host_mnt. To work around this issue, switch back to osxfs in Settings. See docker/for-mac#4859.
There is a known issue when enabling Kubernetes where the settings UI fails to update the Kubernetes state. To work around this issue, close and re-open the window.
There is a rare known issue when switching users where the images view continues to show the repositories of the previous user. To work around this issue, close and re-open the window.

3 Reviews of Docker

Ever since I started hearing about Docker, I keep thinking it's a solution in search of a problem. OK, it's a virtualization technology that doesn't require you to install a guest OS, which is cool, I think, but the configuration needed to get apps installed is every bit as complicated that installing a virtualization engine (VitualBox, Parallels, VMware Fusion) and putting an OS on it. Yes, it's cool to see a non-Mac app running "natively" on Mac hardware, but if the app is the thing (and in Docker, that's the whole point), then I can put up a virtual machine, OS and app in less time than it takes me to put up a Docker registry item, download it and maintain it. If your thing is microservices, then Docker may be a good choice, but then why use a Mac? This is not a review, but a comment and question. Technology for technology's sake, it seems...

(2)

Has some redeeming qualities but it is not in any way "easy", nor Mac like at all. If you are expecting a commercial-grade product like VMWare Fusion, Parallels , Oracle Virtual Box, Wine, or similar, you will be disappointed.

The Mac version's out of the box experience is overcomplicated at best, and not Mac like short of having a Window vs a command line interface:
- Bizarre one-window interface that feels like a web page, changing in place to each function of the software.
- Basically did not use the macOS menu bar, but did manage to put Quit in File vs a dodgy Exit button on the app's window (ala Linux/Java app)
- Where is File -> New Virtual Machine? Where is "new" at all?
- Containers / Apps bounces you out to Terminal to get started with something, can't tell what, but we do know "No containers running" before and after the command line is dutifully executed... that was useless.
- VMs hidden in Library/Containers? Why not ask where to store at launch with caveats for TimeMachine?
- Changing preferences for the Docker support system requires "Apply and Restart", really? Imagine having to reboot your Mac to have System Preferences take effect.
- Inconsistent controls, sometimes you "X" out of a mode in the window, other times you press a cancel button. Sometimes you can do either not not all the time.
- Cant store virtual machine login credentials in keychain unless you backup virtual machines to TimeMachine?! Or can't not store credentials in keychain if you don't back up to TimeMachine. Can't tell from preferences user interface.
- Averages 7% of the processor while idling... always in the top 5 largest idle time consumption apps on my Mac.
- significant chunks written using Python web scripting language, explains a lot.
- Feels like a Google web page interface or a port from Linux.

Unfortunately the Docker system has been overhyped to the point of confusing the reason for it's existence. It is just a virtual machine system. Downloading this huge app (1.4GB), running it, letting it put sprawl in your system, you end up with a bizarre single window app which is some kind of web page style dashboard display and GUI config file editor for some other tool or system that is not readily available.

If your time is worth nothing, then this is your tool. On the other hand, VMWare Fusion ... and even running a Raspberry PI virtualized: https://www.osboxes.org/raspbian/#1608941082012-598be33e-0d69

(0)

Show comment (1)

Love to use this application for testing purposes. It's complicated for newcomers, but extremely useful for advanced users.