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Gilbert Kwan

In this hands-on guided project, you’ll learn how to run Java microservices using Docker. You’ll learn how to construct Dockerfiles, create Docker images using the docker build command, run an image as a Docker container using the docker run command, and learn how and why it’s essential to externalize the server configuration.

In just about an hour, you’ll gain essential containerization skills to grow your career.

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In this hands-on guided project, you’ll learn how to run Java microservices using Docker. You’ll learn how to construct Dockerfiles, create Docker images using the docker build command, run an image as a Docker container using the docker run command, and learn how and why it’s essential to externalize the server configuration.

In just about an hour, you’ll gain essential containerization skills to grow your career.

This lab provides access to a Cloud-based IDE that has all of the required software, such as Docker and OpenShift, preinstalled. All you need is a recent version of a modern web browser to complete this project.

What's inside

Learning objectives

  • After completing this project, you will be able to:
  • Package your microservices
  • Create dockerfiles
  • Create docker images
  • Run your microservices in docker containers
  • Externalize a server configuration

Traffic lights

Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Appropriate for beginners to learn the fundamentals of containerization
Designed for learners with some Java knowledge
Focuses on essential containerization skills for career growth

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Reviews summary

Practical docker for java microservices

According to learners, this course is a highly practical and time-efficient introduction to containerizing Java microservices with Docker. Many found the hands-on labs and the pre-configured cloud IDE to be extremely beneficial, allowing them to quickly apply concepts without setup hassle. Students particularly valued the coverage of externalizing server configurations. While largely positive, some mention that a basic understanding of Docker is helpful, as the pace can be quick for absolute beginners, suggesting it is better suited for those with some prior exposure.
Covers crucial aspects like externalizing server configuration.
"I learned to containerize a Java microservice from scratch and understood the importance of externalizing configurations."
"I particularly appreciated the section on externalizing configurations, a crucial real-world aspect."
"The course highlighted the significance of externalizing server configurations for practical deployments."
"It was helpful to see how to manage configurations outside the container, a very useful skill."
Delivers key skills efficiently in a short timeframe.
"Excellent concise project. It truly demystified Docker for Java microservices."
"Perfect quick project to get started with Docker and Java microservices."
"It’s a great way to grasp essential containerization skills in just about an hour, very efficient."
"I appreciated how direct and to-the-point the content was, covering just what was needed."
The included cloud-based IDE simplifies setup.
"The Cloud-based IDE was a huge plus, saving setup time."
"The pre-configured environment worked flawlessly."
"The pre-installed tools in the lab were a lifesaver."
"I appreciated not having to deal with local environment setup, which saved a lot of time and frustration."
Course provides effective hands-on practice with Docker.
"This guided project was incredibly well-structured and highly practical. I learned to containerize a Java microservice from scratch..."
"The hands-on labs were great for applying concepts."
"Perfect quick project to get started with Docker and Java microservices. Very hands-on and the instructions were clear."
"I gained essential containerization skills quickly through the practical exercises provided."
Pace can be fast; prior Docker knowledge is beneficial.
"The course is okay, but it assumes a bit too much prior knowledge of Docker. As someone with minimal Docker experience, I found myself pausing frequently to look things up."
"Some parts felt a bit rushed, especially if you're completely new to Docker, but overall a valuable hour."
"For absolute beginners, it might be a bit fast-paced."
"I recommend having at least a basic understanding of Docker concepts before diving into this project."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Guided Project: Containerize Java Microservices with Docker V2 with these activities:
Develop a Docker Project Idea
Foster creativity and apply Docker knowledge to solve real-world problems.
Show steps
  • Brainstorm potential Docker use cases and applications.
  • Develop a project idea that leverages Docker's capabilities.
  • Create a project plan and define project goals.
Follow Docker Best Practices Tutorials
Learn and implement best practices for Docker usage and development.
Show steps
  • Identify reputable sources for Docker best practices.
  • Follow tutorials and articles on Docker best practices.
  • Apply best practices to your own Docker development.
Practice Docker Command Syntax
Build confidence and proficiency using Docker commands.
Show steps
  • Review introductory Docker documentation and tutorials.
  • Practice basic Docker commands such as `docker build`, `docker run`, and `docker ps`.
  • Experiment with different command options and parameters.
Three other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all six activities
Create a Docker Cheat Sheet
Solidify understanding of Docker commands and syntax.
Show steps
  • Gather relevant Docker commands and syntax.
  • Organize commands into logical categories.
  • Create a cheat sheet in a format that is easy to reference.
Configure Docker Networking
Deepen understanding of Docker networking concepts and practices.
Browse courses on Networking
Show steps
  • Review Docker networking documentation and tutorials.
  • Practice configuring different Docker networking modes.
  • Troubleshoot common Docker networking issues.
Attend Docker Workshop
Gain hands-on experience working with Docker in a structured environment.
Show steps
  • Research and identify relevant Docker workshops.
  • Attend the workshop and actively participate in hands-on exercises.

Career center

Learners who complete Guided Project: Containerize Java Microservices with Docker V2 will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Reading list

We've selected 50 books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Guided Project: Containerize Java Microservices with Docker V2.
If you read a book about DevOps, read this one. It combines research and case studies to provide a compelling argument that DevOps is essential for the success of technology organizations.
Widely regarded as the foundational text of the discipline, Newman's comprehensive guide examines service boundary modeling, asynchronous communication, distributed workflow coordination, and organizational alignment. Balanced trade-off analysis helps architects decide when and how to adopt fine-grained services.
Considered a must-read for any serious Java programmer, this book provides invaluable advice on writing robust, efficient, and well-designed code. It delves into best practices, common pitfalls, and advanced topics. It is highly recommended for intermediate to advanced programmers and professionals looking to deepen their understanding and improve their coding style.
Structured as a rigorous pattern language, this architectural handbook solves the hardest distributed data management challenges including sagas, transactional outbox, CQRS, and event sourcing. Concrete Java and Spring examples demonstrate how to maintain data consistency across isolated service databases.
While not exclusively a Java book, 'Clean Code' is highly recommended for Java developers. It focuses on the principles and practices of writing readable, maintainable, and testable code. is crucial for anyone looking to improve their software craftsmanship, regardless of experience level. It complements technical Java knowledge with essential coding standards.
Demystifies container execution mechanics from packaging through distribution, providing concrete recipes for bind mounts, network bridging, and runtime isolation barriers.
While not a traditional book, the official Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform documentation is an essential and continuously updated resource for anyone working with OpenShift. It provides comprehensive and accurate information on all aspects of the platform, serving as a primary reference tool for both beginners and experienced users.
This classic book popularized the concept of CI/CD and provides a comprehensive overview of the practice. It covers everything from building and testing to deployment and monitoring, and it includes case studies from real-world companies.
From the DevOps pioneers must-read for anyone who wants to understand the benefits of DevOps and how to implement it in their organization.
As Kubernetes cornerstone of cloud-native deployments, this book must-read for anyone looking to understand the practical aspects of running applications in a cloud-native environment. It covers the core concepts of Kubernetes and provides hands-on guidance. serves as an excellent introduction and a practical guide for students and professionals alike.
Delivers an exceptionally accessible yet technically deep walkthrough of container runtimes, diving into containerd, rootless execution, image architecture, and Swarm clusters.
Gathers 100+ proven patterns and diagnostic workflows, tackling real-world problems around automated container builds, minimal base images, build caching, and volume persistence.
Migrating legacy brownfield systems without halting feature delivery requires incremental decomposition patterns such as the Strangler Fig, branch by abstraction, and parallel run. Newman focuses specifically on untangling shared relational schemas and managing transitional state safely.
Is the definitive guide to writing correct and efficient multithreaded Java applications. Concurrency complex topic, and this book provides the necessary knowledge and patterns to handle it effectively. It's essential reading for graduate students and working professionals dealing with concurrent programming.
Guides engineers through a structured daily roadmap of practical container exercises, transitioning legacy monoliths into lightweight, containerized microservices step by step.
Decoupling services through immutable event streams eliminates brittle synchronous request chains and enables scalable real-time data topologies. Bellemare covers event schemas, stateful stream processing, materialized views, and organizational governance at enterprise scale.
This seminal work provides a catalog of refactorings to improve the design of existing code. It explains how to identify code smells and apply techniques to make code more understandable and maintainable. is essential for developers who work with existing Java codebases and want to improve their design.
Presents high-availability architectural blueprints for distributed cloud systems, covering container clustering, horizontal autoscaling, load shedding, and resilience engineering.
Provides a strong foundation in the patterns and practices essential for designing cloud-native applications. It covers key concepts like microservices, Twelve-Factor Apps, and the supporting infrastructure needed for cloud-native systems. It's particularly useful for understanding the 'why' behind cloud-native architecture and is valuable both as initial reading and a reference.
Ansible powerful automation tool for server configuration and management. teaches you how to use Ansible effectively, covering playbooks, managing remote servers, and deploying applications. It is highly relevant for contemporary server configuration practices, especially in DevOps environments.
Designed for SREs, system administrators, and DevOps engineers, this book focuses on the operational aspects of managing OpenShift clusters efficiently. It covers core concepts, deployment strategies, monitoring, and using Kubernetes operators. Published in late 2022, it provides contemporary insights into operating OpenShift at scale.
Offers a practical approach to combining cloud-native principles with DevOps practices using Kubernetes. It guides readers through building, deploying, and scaling applications on Kubernetes. It's a hands-on guide suitable for both developers and operations professionals.
Investigates defense-in-depth container security, detailing host kernel hardening, secure image supply chains, automated SBOM auditing, and runtime workload protection mechanisms.
This handbook provides a step-by-step guide to implementing DevOps in your organization. It covers all aspects of DevOps, from planning to implementation to measurement, and it valuable resource for anyone looking to get started with DevOps.
Provides a comprehensive overview of CI/CD and DevOps. It covers everything from the basics of CI/CD to the cultural and organizational changes that are necessary to adopt DevOps.
Hands-on engineering chapters walk through building, securing, and deploying reactive Java microservices using Spring Boot 3, Docker, Kubernetes, and Istio service mesh. Developers gain practical mastery of OAuth 2.0 security, Resilience4j circuit breakers, and OpenTelemetry tracing.
For those interested in enterprise Java development, this book is an essential guide to the Spring framework. Spring is widely used for building Java applications, and this book covers its core features and best practices. It is valuable for undergraduate students and professionals focusing on enterprise Java.
Furnishes pragmatic configuration recipes for systems administrators, tackling multi-container Compose orchestration, private registry management, and host storage performance.
Observability is critical for understanding and debugging distributed cloud-native systems. provides a comprehensive guide to observability principles and practices. It's essential reading for anyone involved in operating and maintaining cloud-native applications.
This handbook focuses on the contemporary topic of managing multiple OpenShift clusters, addressing challenges like vendor lock-in and providing insights into architecture and deployment scenarios. It covers OpenShift Pipelines with Tekton and OpenShift GitOps with Argo CD, making it highly relevant for advanced users and professionals dealing with complex OpenShift deployments.
Explores enterprise container operations at scale, walking through security vulnerability scanning, multi-node clustering, secrets rotation, and automated infrastructure monitoring.
Addressing the operational complexities of asynchronous architectures, this guide details idempotency, out-of-order message handling, dead-letter queues, and eventual consistency monitoring. Pragmatic advice bridges high-level architecture diagrams with day-two production realities.
A comprehensive guide to Kubernetes, this book delves into the core concepts and provides detailed explanations of how Kubernetes works. It's an excellent resource for gaining a deep understanding of the platform underpinning many cloud-native deployments. Suitable for those who want to go beyond the basics of Kubernetes.
Containerization with Docker key contemporary topic in server configuration. provides a detailed exploration of Docker concepts, architecture, images, containers, networking, and security. It's considered a top resource for learning Docker and is regularly updated.
While not a Java-specific book, this is highly relevant for Java developers building large-scale, distributed systems. It covers fundamental concepts in data systems, which are crucial for designing robust Java applications in a professional setting.
Introduces fundamental design patterns in a highly engaging and easy-to-understand manner. While not solely focused on Java, it uses Java examples extensively. Understanding design patterns is vital for writing well-structured and maintainable Java applications, making this book valuable for students and professionals.
Many organizations transition to cloud-native from existing monolithic applications. provides practical patterns and strategies for safely migrating from a monolith to a microservices architecture. It's highly relevant for professionals dealing with legacy systems and offers valuable insights for modernization efforts.
For those focusing on Windows server environments, this book provides comprehensive coverage of installation, configuration, and management of Windows Server 2022. It's a detailed guide that is valuable as both a learning resource and a reference for administering Windows servers in an enterprise environment.
Addresses cluster-wide container orchestration and automated rollouts, detailing Swarm scheduling algorithms, service discovery, overlay networks, and declarative stack manifests.
Starting from a minimal single-service application, readers progressively evolve a clean architecture into a multi-service system with service discovery, API routing, and message brokers. Pedagogical clarity makes it an ideal entry point for backend developers new to distributed systems.
Unpacks the transition from standalone Docker engines to Kubernetes orchestration, exploring pod abstractions, deployment manifests, service mesh concepts, and resource governance.
Provides a high-level view of the principles and best practices of system and network administration, which are directly applicable to server configuration. It focuses on a modern IT methodology and covers topics like infrastructure design, server deployment, and management. While not a technical manual for specific configurations, it offers crucial context and frameworks for effective server administration.
Examines cloud-native patterns for containerized applications, illustrating twelve-factor design principles, health check probes, stateless service tiers, and persistent state stores.
Is known for its comprehensive coverage and clear explanations of Java concepts, emphasizing the 'why' behind the language features. It's a strong resource for intermediate and advanced learners seeking a deeper understanding of Java and object-oriented programming.
A comprehensive introduction to Java programming, this book covers the basics thoroughly, from writing and compiling code to understanding keywords and syntax. It's suitable for beginners and can serve as a good reference for fundamental concepts. The latest editions are updated to cover newer Java versions.
Provides a solid theoretical and practical foundation in data structures and algorithms using Java. It's a standard textbook in many university computer science programs and is crucial for understanding the efficiency and design of programs. Essential for undergraduate and graduate students.
Another foundational book for software developers, this provides timeless advice on a wide range of topics, including development methodologies, personal responsibility, and career development. While not Java-specific, its principles are highly relevant and beneficial for any Java programmer seeking to improve their overall development skills.
Distilling lessons from Uber's hyper-growth infrastructure, Fowler defines an operational readiness checklist covering stability, deployment pipelines, monitoring, alerting, and catastrophe preparedness. Engineering leaders use this concise framework to audit microservice maturity.
Provides a comprehensive overview of Kubernetes Operators, a powerful mechanism for automating the management of complex Kubernetes applications. It's a great choice for anyone looking to gain a deep understanding of the topic.

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