5.Docker Installation Guide: Windows, macOS, and Linux Setup

Docker – Installation

Installing Docker is the first step toward using containerized applications in development, testing, or production. Docker can be installed on various platforms including Linux, Windows, and macOS, with slight differences in setup depending on the operating system. Understanding the installation process ensures a smooth environment setup and proper functioning of containers.

1. Docker on Windows

For Windows 10 or 11, Docker provides Docker Desktop, a user-friendly application that bundles Docker Engine, CLI, Kubernetes, and WSL2 integration. Here’s the installation overview:

• Ensure your system supports WSL2 (Windows Subsystem for Linux) or Hyper-V virtualization.
• Download Docker Desktop from https://www.docker.com/products/docker-desktop.
• During installation, enable “Use WSL 2 based engine” for better performance.
• After installation, launch Docker Desktop and verify it is running by checking the Docker icon in the system tray.
• Open PowerShell or a WSL terminal and run docker version to confirm both client and server components are working.

Using WSL2 allows Docker to run Linux containers natively on Windows, providing consistent behavior and efficient resource usage. Docker Desktop also includes GUI tools, automatic updates, and integration with Visual Studio Code for development.

2. Docker on macOS

On macOS, Docker Desktop is the recommended way to run Docker:

• Download Docker Desktop for Mac from the official Docker website.
• Install the .dmg file and drag Docker to the Applications folder.
• Run Docker Desktop and allow the required permissions.
• Open the terminal and verify the installation by running docker version.

Docker Desktop on macOS uses a lightweight Linux virtual machine under the hood (HyperKit), allowing Linux containers to run efficiently. macOS users get the same developer-friendly interface and CLI experience as on Windows.

3. Docker on Linux

Linux is the native environment for Docker, and installation here is straightforward. Most distributions like Ubuntu, Debian, Fedora, and CentOS are supported. The typical steps include:

• Updating system packages.
• Installing required dependencies for HTTPS and repositories.
• Adding Docker’s official repository and GPG key.
• Installing docker-ce, docker-ce-cli, and containerd.io.
• Verifying installation with docker --version and running a test container with docker run hello-world.

Docker on Linux offers maximum performance and direct access to the host kernel, making it ideal for production servers and high-performance workloads.

4. Post-Installation Verification

After installation on any platform, it’s important to verify that Docker is properly configured:

docker --version
docker info
docker run hello-world

These commands confirm the Docker client, server, and runtime are functioning correctly.

5. Key Notes

• Ensure virtualization (Hyper-V, WSL2, or equivalent) is enabled on your system.
• Use the official Docker repository or installer to get the latest stable version.
• On Windows and macOS, Docker Desktop simplifies management and includes extra tools like Kubernetes.
• Linux installations are lightweight and ideal for production deployment.

Installing Docker correctly ensures a consistent environment for building, running, and deploying containerized applications across platforms. Whether you’re on Windows, macOS, or Linux, Docker provides a standardized workflow that reduces errors, improves portability, and accelerates development.