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Hello guys, if you are a Java developer, Programmer or Software engineer then you may have heard about Docker, Kubernetes and containers, three most popular tool in this age of cloud computing and DevOps based application deployment.

If you want to learn Docker in depth and looking for best resources like books, online courses, and tutorials then you have come to the right place. Earlier, I have shared best Docker and Kubernetes courses and my reasons to learn Docker and in this article, I am going to share best books to learn Docker and Kubernetes in depth.

Being an author of a Java and Programming blog, I often receive a lot of questions about Docker like what is Docker? What is Kubernetes? What problem them solve? Do I need to learn Docker as a Java Developer? what is Docker compose, which Docker commands should I learn, what is Docker Hub, How can I migrate my application to Docker and how can I deploy Docker container on AWS, Azure, and GCP.

These are also common doubts of programmers across the world and I believe every programmer should learn Docker and Kubernetes.

Let's start with What is Docker and why a Programmer should learn Docker?

Simply speaking, Docker is a tool which makes application deployment really easy. It abstract the deployment using container which means you can deploy a Java application and a .NET application in the same way.

You don't need to install JDK or CLR into your host, all you need is a Docker image which contains not just application code but also everything else your application need to run like Java Runtime, Java third party libraries as well as operating system like Linux or Windows.

Like most software technologies out there, Docker provides a great level of abstraction which makes it easy to bundle an application and its dependency, which in turn makes it easy to deploy the application on cloud.

Docker also aims to solve the classic problem of application working on one machine but not working on others. It does that by abstracting all things including OS which is needed by the application to run.

Docker was first launched by Solomon Hykes in 2013. It is also one of the most popular DevOps tool, and great for continuous deployment and testing.

Docker containers make sure there is consistency with multiple environments, developments, and release cycles, helping to standardize your environment.

5 Best Docker and Kubernetes Books for Beginners and Experienced Developers

Without wasting any more of your time, here is my list of 5 best books to learn Docker from scratch. Though, this list is not just for beginners but also for an experienced developer who wants to learn Docker in-depth.

I have also included books like Docker Deep Dive which is really great to level up your Docker Skills and become the developer every company wants to hire.

1. Docker Deep Dive by Nigel Poulton

As the name entails, this book offers one a chance to become the grandmaster of Docker. It is also touted as the best Docker book online. It offers lessons on the deeper and advanced parts of Docker and tackles setups like AS,(automated server).

This book is useful for both beginners and experts. If you want to learn Docker from scratch, you can use this book and if you want to learn Docker in-depth then also this is a great book.

The best part of this book is that it's updated regularly which is very important to learn something like Docker which is constantly updated.

The book provides an in-depth explanation of Docker architecture and deep dive into concepts like Docker image and containers. It also covers Networking, Security, and Volumes.

The book is written by Docker Captain and leading educator in the container ecosystem Nigel Poulton, who is also created some of the best Docker online courses like Getting Started with Docker and Docker Deep Dive on Pluralsight.

If you like you can combine this book with those courses to learn Docker better with some active learning exercises and explanation from none other than Nigel Poulton, author of this book.

This book also covers the Docker Certified Associate (DCA) certification, which means you can also use this book if you are preparing for Docker certification.

And, If you can, I highly recommend you to learn Kubernetes as well because Docker and Kubernetes go along nicely as nobody deploys containers manually nowadays they use Kubernetes to deploy containers at scale.

If you need a book to learn Kubernetes, Nigel Poulton's The Kubernetes Book is a great resource to start with

2. The Docker Book

The Docker Book was published by James Turnbull in 2014 and soon became a favorite among the Docker community. It is basically Docker for dummies as it painstakingly explains all the concepts of Docker. If this is your first time looking at Docker then this book is a perfect fit for you.

Each lesson teaches theory and practice so you learn the benefits of Docker along with real-world practices. From this book, you will learn how to look at docker with fresh eyes.

The table of contents covers Introduction to Docker, Installing Docker, Getting Started with Docker, Working with Docker images and repositories, Testing with Docker, Building services with Docker, Orchestration with Docker Compose, Docker Swarm and Consul, Using the Docker API, and Extending Docker.

Btw, If you like online courses then you can also combine this book with the Docker and Kubernetes: The Complete Guide course by Stephen Grider on Udemy. It's one of the best and up-to-date courses to learn both Docker and Kubernetes and Stephen is well known for making complex things simpler.

3. Docker in Action

Just like the name suggests, Docker in Action is a practical book with live examples and working exercises. It was written by Jeff Nicoloff, a Docker expert and the book teaches the following:

Running programs securely and packaging containers for deployment with how to manage shared resources. Users will also learn to create and to deploy projects in Docker, managing applications hosted in Docker containers, and working with Docker images.

There are also lesson on how to use DuckerHub for distribution and techniques for using Docker on systems ranging from dev-and-test machines to full-scale cloud deployments. Package applications in containers, including techniques for testing and distributing applications.

I also recommend you to combine this book with a hands-on course like **Docker for the Absolute Beginners - hands-on DevOps **on Udemy. It's a great course with a lot of exercises to learn essential Docker commands. You will also learn how to compose files with exercise and understand Docker swarm in detail.

4. Learning Docker

If project deployment is all you are about as a developer then this particular book on Docker might just be for you. Although Learning Docker requires a little knowledge of web programming, no knowledge of Docker or container is required.

The authors Pethuru Raj, Vinod Singh, and Jeeva S. Chelladhurai have also written other amazing programming books and ensures that any beginner developer can learn Docker by reading this book.

This book will teach you how to build a Docker image using Dockerfiles, push and publish images on Docker Hub, a maven like a repository, run your own private Docker Hub and upload images onto it.

You will also learn how to compose, use, and publish the Docker containers, leverage the features of Docker to deploy your existing applications and explore real-world examples of securing and managing Docker containers.

If you want, you can also combine this book with the Docker for the Absolute Beginner --- Hands-On --- DevOps course form Udemy for better and more active learning.

5. Docker: Up and Running

The book was written by Karl Matthias and Sean P. Kane and is all about the advanced and practical aspects of Docker. If you are a newbie then this is not the right fit for you. It tackles Docker concepts like how to keep internal dependencies, package applications, and maintain consistent project environment during local testing and deployment.

It also teaches Docker on several levels such that it makes dependency management very simple for deploying workflow for applications.

Like with the previous books, it covers how to excel working with Docker images, containers, and command-line tools with the use of practical techniques to deploy and test Docker-based Linux containers in production.

If you are done with all the basics and you still want more, then checking out Docker Mastery: with Kubernetes and Swarm course still have some more advanced concepts.

The courses are taught in very simple English and by a Docker captain himself, which makes it a nice companion of this book, particularly for people who wants to learn Docker in-depth.

That's all about the best books to learn Docker in depth. As I have said before, Docker is an essential skill for every programmer as more and more companies are switching to container-based deployment.

If you want to learn Docker but looking for free resources then don't worry, in the past, I have also shared best free courses to learn Docker you can also check them to start with your Docker journey.

Other DevOps, Cloud and Programming Courses you may like

Thanks for reading this article so far. If you find these Docker books useful then please share with your friends and colleagues. If you have any questions or feedback then please drop a note.

P. S. - If you prefer online courses over books or just want to do some active learning then I also recommend you check out Docker and Kubernetes: The Complete Guide course by Stephen Grier on Udemy. It's one of the best and up-to-date courses to learn both Docker and Kubernetes and Stephen is well known for making complex things simpler.

My Favorite Books to Learn Docker and Kubernetes