Java and Docker: Containerizing Applications

The book "Java and Docker: Containerizing Applications" is a practical guide for Java developers who want to master modern approaches to packaging and delivering software. You will learn how to turn a regular Java application into a lightweight Docker image, configure its launch in an isolated environment, and organize the interaction of multiple services.

The book is structured from simple to complex. Starting with basic concepts (images, containers, Dockerfile), you will quickly move on to real-world tasks: creating multi-layer images for Spring Boot applications, optimizing size (Alpine, JLink, distroless), working with environment variables and volumes. Special attention is paid to security and performance issues.

Who is this book for?

• Junior+ Java developers who want to add Docker to their stack
• Backend engineers transitioning to a microservices architecture
• DevOps specialists looking for ready-made recipes for Java
• Students and instructors of modern development courses

What you will learn from the book:

• How to write efficient Dockerfiles for Java (Maven/Gradle, multi-stage builds)
• Configuring Docker Compose for the stack: Spring Boot + PostgreSQL + Redis
• Logging and monitoring of containerized applications
• Integrating Docker into CI/CD pipelines (GitLab CI, GitHub Actions)
• Orchestration with Docker Swarm and Kubernetes basics for Java projects
• Migrating an existing monolith to containers

In each chapter, you will find ready-made code examples, docker-compose.yml files, and step-by-step instructions. All examples are tested on Java 17+ and the latest versions of Docker (24.x). The book is suitable both for self-study and for use as a reference during development.

After reading, you will be able to confidently containerize any Java applications, speed up the deployment process, and simplify interaction between the development and operations teams. This is not just theory — it is a set of proven practices used in production.