Docker Desktop

WARNING

Commercial use of Docker Desktop in larger enterprises (more than 250 employees OR more than $10 million USD in annual revenue) requires a paid subscription.

Docker Desktop is a desktop app that makes it easy to manage containers, images, volumes, and networks visually. It includes the following:

• Docker Engine
  • Core runtime for building, running, and managing containers. More in the next section below.
• Graphical User Interface (GUI)
• Virtualization Support for Non-Linux Platforms
  • Supports Windows and MacOS platforms with the help of a lightweight Linux VM for running containers.
  • On Windows, it offers integration with WSL 2 (Windows Subsystem for Linux), providing a Linux-like experience for running Docker containers.
• Docker Compose
  • A tool for defining and running multi-container applications using a simple YAML file (docker-compose.yml).
• Kubernetes Integration
  • Comes with a built-in Kubernetes cluster that can be enabled with a single click. Allows developers to orchestrate and manage containers locally using Kubernetes without needing to set up a separate cluster.
• Docker Extensions
  • Supports Docker Extensions, enabling users to enhance Docker Desktop with additional features, such as security scanning, container debugging, and visualization tools.
• and much more...

Docker Desktop is great for local development and experimenting with Docker and container technologies. It’s also the easiest option for running Docker on Windows and macOS.

Installation

The Docker Desktop installation instructions for multiple platforms can be found in official docs here.