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Docker in depth

The operator’s course: how images really work, what the engine is made of, how storage drivers and volumes behave, the container network model end to end, running services across many machines with Docker Swarm, then a set of worked recipes that stand up real services (databases, caches, web apps) the secure way. Thirty lessons across seven sections, each ending with a self-test.

Intermediate7 sections · 30 lessons · ~11h total · 82-question self-test

01

Image management

4 lessonsTest yourself

01Image layers & internalsHow layers stack, cache, and get shared.14 min 02Multi-stage buildsSmall images with no build tools left behind.12 min 03Tags, digests & pinningMutable names vs immutable content.10 min 04Inspecting, saving & pruning imageshistory, inspect, save/load, prune.12 min

02

The Docker engine

4 lessonsTest yourself

01Engine architecturedockerd, containerd, shim, and runc.12 min 02Configuring the daemondaemon.json and engine defaults.12 min 03Logging & log driversWhere container output goes, and how to ship it.12 min 04How isolation works: namespaces & cgroupsThe kernel features under every container.14 min

03

Storage & volumes

2 lessonsTest yourself

01Volumes, bind mounts & tmpfsThe three ways to attach data.12 min 02Storage drivers & the layered filesystemoverlay2 and copy-on-write.12 min

04

Networking

5 lessonsTest yourself

01The container network model & driversCNM, bridge, host, macvlan, overlay.14 min 02DNS, discovery & publishing portsHow containers find and expose each other.12 min 03Managing portsPublishing, interfaces, ranges, and exposure.10 min 04Container linking (legacy) vs networksWhy --link gave way to user-defined networks.10 min 05Network troubleshootingA method for "it can't connect".10 min

05

Orchestration with Swarm

5 lessonsTest yourself

01Swarm mode & architectureManagers, workers, and the raft log.14 min 02Services, replicas & scalingThe declarative unit of Swarm.12 min 03Stacks: deploying a Compose fileOne file, a whole app, across nodes.12 min 04Overlay networks & the routing meshCross-node networking and load balancing.12 min 05Secrets & configs in SwarmDelivering sensitive data to services.12 min

06

Practical recipes

8 lessonsTest yourself

01Recipe: Node.js appA production Node image, non-root, cached deps.12 min 02Recipe: PostgreSQLPersistent data, secrets, healthcheck.12 min 03Recipe: RedisPersistence, memory limits, and auth.10 min 04Recipe: NGINX web server & reverse proxyServe static, proxy an app, terminate TLS.14 min 05Recipe: MongoDBAuth, a named volume, and a healthcheck.10 min 06Recipe: MySQLRoot vs app user, init scripts, secrets.10 min 07Recipe: Python appSlim base, venv, non-root, pinned wheels.12 min 08Recipe: WordPress + MySQLA two-service stack wired with Compose.12 min

07

Production & CI

2 lessonsTest yourself

01Docker best practicesThe habits that make images small, fast, and safe.12 min 02Docker in CI/CDBuild, scan, sign, and push from a pipeline.12 min

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Final exam

Test yourself on everything

82 questions drawn from all 7 sections — every answer explained as you pick.

Start final exam