First Class Support for Docker: Better Service, More Legroom
Thanks to Richard Moross for the base image CC BY 2.0
Overview
“Docker, please visit the front desk to receive your complimentary upgrade to first-class seating.“
That’s right, Docker just received a first-class upgrade on Iron.io. A ways back, Travis (our digital frontiers-man of a CTO) announced beta support for Docker. Today, we’re ripping off the beta tag. Docker is our preferred way to package code.
Table of Contents
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S/He’s Changed You, Dude
Docker’s our new sweetheart, but Iron.io is still the same platform you know and love. Our old method of uploading dot-files still works. We’re just sweet on Docker because it offers speed and flexibility; two values we’re big fans of over at Iron.io HQ.
How does it work? Grab your favorite image from your favorite Docker registry. Then, code up something cool! When you’re done testing, use the iron CLI to bundle and upload your package.
Once everything is uploaded, you can start passing messages for your worker to act on. Messages will appear as a file, whose location can be found by checking the PAYLOAD_FILE environment variable. Want to make this bit even easier? Lean on one of our handy client libraries.
Easy Peasy! A simple hello-world in NodeJS looks like this:
var iron_worker = require('iron_worker'); console.log("Hello", iron_worker.params()['name'], "from Node!");
If you passed a message like {“name”: “Susan”}
, then Susan would receive a lovely greeting from IronWorker.
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But, Wait... There’s More!
If this is your first encounter with containers, have no fear! Getting started with Docker is simple.
- Install Iron CLI tool
On your command line, run:curl -sSL https://cli.iron.io/install | sh
- Install Docker
Pick your architecture on Docker’s installation page, and follow the instructions. - Use one of our ready-made images
Pick one of the languages on our DockerWorker repo. The README will show you how to build, test, and deploy your IronWorker.
See how easy that was? There are a few beautiful pieces worth noting here. First, your dev environment for IronWorker is the exact same code as your cloud environment.
Next, since Docker boasts a thriving community, we have tons of choices when it comes to which container to run. But, maybe you or your company prefer privacy. No worries! Private Docker registries work just the same.
Next, DockerWorkers make dependency management dead-simple. Need both Ruby 1.9 and Ruby 2.1? No problem. Docker keeps your peas from touching your carrots.
Finally, speed! Writing, testing, and deploying code is super quick in a DockerWorker flow. It must be Christmas-come-early because the new flow works wonderfully for rapid prototyping and experimentation.
Give It a Try
Iron.io’s first-class Docker support means working with Docker and the Iron.io platform is easier than ever. We’ve created a bunch of tutorials for a wide variety of languages. Each tutorial will show you how to build, test, and deploy to the cloud in less than five minutes.
Have five minutes and want to see something really, really, cool? Head over to GitHub, and give the new flow a try!
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