Docker Usage Debate

The cluster centers on debates about the necessity, benefits, and drawbacks of using Docker for development, deployment, and dependency management, often comparing it to native OS packages, single binaries, or alternatives like Nix.

📉 Falling 0.4x DevOps & Infrastructure
7,114
Comments
14
Years Active
5
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#2420
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Keywords

UX IBM HN RH LAMP SOE OS VPS VM i.e docker containers reproducible nix packages run versions server environments script

Sample Comments

angrais Apr 12, 2021 View on HN

Could you expand on why Docker is a pain for you?

hanselot Sep 6, 2021 View on HN

For the same reason docker exists. Convenience and lack of understanding.

idontwantthis Nov 28, 2022 View on HN

I think you'd need a particular reason to not use Docker.

tinco Oct 27, 2016 View on HN

Nothing. You've already spent all the time and effort that Docker would save you. Have fun maintaining OS packages.

raverbashing Mar 24, 2020 View on HN

You don't need to run docker for every single thing

8organicbits Jul 27, 2023 View on HN

Dependency management is one thing Docker handles, and I don't really think it does a great job of that. To me containers solve the challenge of getting a development environment that closely matches production. It standardizes how deployments are performed, how testing environments are set up. Before this we had complex, immutable ansible scripts, READMEs, install scripts that had to be babysat, snowflake servers that no-one knew how they were configured. It's also an extremely widely

Sammi Jun 9, 2024 View on HN

Sometimes docker is overkill and I'm so glad something exists that doesn't require it.

matteuan Jan 27, 2020 View on HN

You judge "with respect" my experience instead of answering to the argument. So why is it easier with Docker?

yakaccount4 Jan 31, 2021 View on HN

Docker is better off as a deployment tool, rather than a development environment.

2OEH8eoCRo0 Sep 24, 2025 View on HN

Are you using Docker on it's own merit or because it's familiar and first?