Introduction to Containers

1. Introduction to Containers

In this video, we'll explore what containers are, why they matter, and how they fit into cloud computing.

2. What are Containers?

Containers are lightweight, portable units of software that package an application together with everything it needs to run:

3. What are Containers?

libraries

4. What are Containers?

dependencies

5. What are Containers?

and configuration files.

6. What are Containers?

Unlike traditional virtual machines, containers don't require a full operating system for each app. Instead, they share the host OS kernel, which makes them faster to start, more efficient to run, and easier to move between environments. This portability is one of the reasons containers have become a cornerstone of modern cloud computing. This makes containers ideal for modern cloud-native applications, while VMs remain useful for workloads that require full OS isolation or legacy applications.

7. Containers in cloud computing

Cloud computing thrives on flexibility and scalability. Containers allow developers to build once and run anywhere - on a laptop, in a data center, or in the cloud. This consistency reduces the classic "works on my machine" problem. Containers can also be scaled up or down quickly, making them ideal for dynamic workloads. Cloud providers like Azure offer services that make container deployment seamless, helping teams deliver features faster and with fewer errors.

8. Container architecture basics

At the core, a container has three main parts:

9. Container architecture basics

An image: the blueprint that defines what's inside the container, including the app and dependencies.

10. Container architecture basics

A Container runtime: the engine that runs containers, such as Docker or containerd.

11. Container architecture basics

And a host system: the underlying machine that provides CPU, memory, and networking resources.

12. Container architecture basics

Multiple containers can run on the same host, isolated from each other but sharing the OS kernel. This isolation ensures that one container doesn't interfere with another, while still keeping resource usage efficient.

13. Use cases for Containers

Containers shine in scenarios where speed, portability, and scalability matter. Common use cases include: Micro-services: breaking applications into smaller, independent services that can be developed and deployed separately. DevOps pipelines: enabling continuous integration and deployment by packaging apps consistently. Hybrid cloud apps: running workloads consistently across on-premises and cloud environments. Batch jobs and automation: spinning up containers for short tasks, then shutting them down to save costs. These use cases highlight how containers reduce friction between development and operations.

14. Recap

Containers are a foundational technology in cloud computing. They provide portability, efficiency, and scalability, making them a natural fit for modern application development. In the next videos, we'll explore how Azure supports containers with services like Azure Container Registry and Azure Container Instances, building on this foundation.

15. Let's practice!

And now, lets practice with some exercises!

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