Docker vs Kubernetes

In this data-driven and cloud-native era, businesses have migrated their architecture and infrastructure to cloud computing, container orchestration, and containerization. Some of the most popular names in these areas are Dockers and Kubernetes have changed the way businesses develop and deploy at a large scale. Anyone who is working with software development, whether you are a Product Manager, Data Scientist, or Software Developer, will have to know about these two primary tools- Docker and Kubernetes, so that you can work efficiently and show productive results in your software development and management. Knowing about both these tools helps individuals manage their software processes and also helps them become better professionals. You have to know what is the difference between Docker and Kubernetes and know which would be a better tool to be used for your project. This article focuses on the details of Docker and Kubernetes and highlights the major differences between the two platforms. 

What is Docker?

Docker could be defined as a containerization platform that clubs all the applications and their associations in the form of a Docker container. The growing DevOps trend poses many challenges that the Docker platform tends to solve. A professional can use Docker to create, deploy, and run applications using containers, which makes it simple and hassle-free. A modern Developer needs containers to store their applications and their dependencies, including all the relevant packages such as the operating system, system tools, application code, system libraries, runtime, etc. Before the introduction of Dockers, Developers used virtual machines to store their applications, which only stored a limited amount of data and could handle fewer applications. Containers such as Docker, on the other hand, take up less space than virtual machines and can take up more applications. Using Docker, the developers can easily run their applications in the same environment without any OS issues as Docker has its OS. 

If you consider this scenario before and after Docker, you realize its importance.

Before Docker: A developer spends a specific code to the tester where the code does not run on the tester’s end due to various dependencies. However, it is working fine at the developer’s end. 

After Docker: Both the tester and the developer have the same system running on the Docker container, and hence, both can run the application without having to face dependency issues. 

Which professionals use Docker?

The system administrators and the developers both benefit from Docker as it is a part of the DevOps (developers + operations) toolchain. By using Docker, the developers do not have to worry about the system on which their code will be working on. Developers can also get started easily by using one of the thousands of programs that are pre-designed to be executed in a Docker container as it is a part of the Docker application. Docker gives flexibility and decreases the total number of systems required as it has a lower overhead and a small footprint, which is beneficial for the operations staff. 

Docker features

• Operational efficiencies
• Managing your applications in isolated environments
• Affinity/placements
• Easy modeling
• Productivity of developers
• Agility of applications
• Version control

Docker Advantages

• Works and integrates with the existing Docker tools
• Can easily track the Docker container versions to evaluate any discrepancies between prior versions. 
• Offers easier and more efficient initial set-up
• The application lifecycle could be described in detail using Docker
• Docker-compose simplifies the interaction and configuration
• Applications can run in a virtual environment quickly as Docker offers a quick-paced environment that enhances the virtual machine. 
• Every application in Docker is isolated
• Business gets boosted as Docker offers fast and simple configuration. 
• Documentation shows all the information of the application in detail

Disadvantage of Docker

• The monitoring option is not very efficient
• Inactive nodes are not automatically rescheduled. 
• Docker does not have a storage option
• Horizontal scaling set up is complicated
• Multiple instances need manual handling
• Basic infrastructure needs to be handled
• All Actions in Dockers has to be performed in CLI
• Monitoring, scaling, and healing requires other tools for production aspects
• Health checks are not supported
• Critical components such as Docker desktop and Docker-engine are not open-source as Docker is a for-profit SaaS company.

What is Kubernetes?

Kubernetes is considered as cloud computing’s next big wave. It is a tool that helps to manage containers and helps in deployment automation and management of containers. As you are developing applications and storing them in containers, you will end up with thousands of them over time which has to be deployed, managed, connected, and updated. If you do not use the Kubernetes application and were to do all these tasks manually, you would require an entire team dedicated to this work. Just running containers would not be sufficient, you should be able to make them tolerant to a fault, scale up and down depending on the demand, integrate and orchestrate the modular parts, and communication across clusters should be provided. Applications such as Kubernetes sit on top of containers and are known as container schedulers. It is a open-source container management software built on a google platform. Containerized applications in the cloud, physical, and virtual environments can easily be managed using Kubernetes. Complex applications can be delivered using Kubernetes as it can run a cluster of thousands of individual servers. 

Features of Kubernetes

• A higher density of resource utilization is provided
• Testing, development, and production have an environment consistent with the use of Kubernetes
• It is an application-centric management
• Automated scheduling is offered
• Enterprise-ready features are available
• Rollback and rollouts are automated
• Capabilities of self-healing are offered
• Loading balancing and horizontal scaling could be used
• A predictable infrastructure could be created
• Infrastructure is auto-scalable
• Declarative configuration is provided by the application
• The software can be deployed and updated at a large scale

Advantages of Kubernetes

• It has one of the largest container orchestration tool community
• A valuable industry such as Google has developed a tool which brings the experience of high quality to the table.
• The service organization is easy with pods
• On-premises SANs, and public clouds, and other variety of storage options are available.
• Immutable infrastructure principles are followed 

Kubernetes Disadvantages

• It is not compatible with Docker CLI and composes tools
• Automatic horizontal scaling setup and manual cluster deployment are complicated. 
• The configuration/installation process is tedious and highly complex
• The functionality depends on the availability of Docker API
• Stateless migration requires much effort

What is the difference between Docker and Kubernetes?

You have to understand that both Docker and Kubernetes are two different technologies that are designed such that they are used together. They do not compete with each other and there should not be a confusion of which is better, Docker or Kubernetes. This being understood, let’s see what exactly is the difference between the two applications. Both these tools have their roles to play in DevOps and are used together frequently. The fundamental difference between Docker and Kubernetes is that Docker is a containerization technology used to isolate applications into containers. In contrast, Kubernetes is a container management software used to handle different containers and deploy and scale your applications.

The key comparison between the two technologies are:

• Docker is developed by Docker Inc and Kubernetes is developed by Google
• Docker does not support autoscaling whereas Kubernetes supports.
• Docker swarm supports about 2000 nodes and Kubernetes supports 5000 nodes
• Docker provides high fault tolerance, and Kubernetes provides low fault tolerance.
• Docker is highly customizable and comprehensive, but Kubernetes is less extensive and customizable.

Kubernetes vs Docker

Which is better: Docker or Kubernetes?

As explained, both are different technologies, and the obvious answer after you understand each application's function is that both should be used simultaneously. Kubernetes is designed to work hand-in-hand with Docker, as the Kubernetes documentation was written with Docker in mind. Kubernetes includes Docker-centric tools such as Compose, which converts the Docker-compose command and settings and makes them usable by Kubernetes. Hence, both must be used together to get the full experience and efficiency of software development and management.

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Also check: How Do Docker and Kubernetes Work Together

Conclusion

Regarding industry standards, both Docker and Kubernetes are experts in their field. They provide a well-structured platform for managing containers, orchestration at scale, and deployment. So, when you want to compare both software technologies, you have to understand that they work with each other. There has never been a question of which is better. It is always Docker and Kubernetes, which is true even at present times.

Hence, before you look at the differences between the two, it becomes essential that you understand their definitions and their functions. This helps you to differentiate between the two software tools.
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