Java and Docker: Containerization of Applications

The book "Java and Docker: Containerization of Applications" is a practical guide that will help Java developers master modern approaches to packaging, delivering, and running applications using Docker. You will learn how to turn a regular Java application into a lightweight, portable, and scalable container ready to work in any environment — from a local computer to a cloud cluster.

What is this book about?

The book covers the full cycle of working with containers: from basic Docker concepts to advanced orchestration and automation techniques. You will learn:

• How to create efficient Dockerfiles for Java projects (Spring Boot, Jakarta EE, Micronaut, etc.) with optimization of image size and build time.
• How to manage multi-container applications using Docker Compose: linking databases, message queues, and services.
• How to set up CI/CD pipelines for automated building, testing, and deployment of containerized Java applications (GitHub Actions, Jenkins, GitLab CI).
• How to work with networks and volumes in Docker: ensuring secure communication between containers and persisting data.
• How to apply microservice architecture patterns using Docker and Java (Service Discovery, API Gateway, Circuit Breaker).
• How to monitor and log containerized applications (Prometheus, Grafana, ELK Stack).

Who is this book for?

The book is intended for Java developers of any level who want to:

• Simplify the deployment of their projects and eliminate "it works on my machine" problems.
• Master containerization to transition to a microservice architecture.
• Prepare their applications for running in Kubernetes or cloud platforms (AWS, GCP, Azure).
• Improve the efficiency of DevOps processes in their team.

Reading requires basic familiarity with Java (Maven/Gradle) and the command line. All code examples are available for download and have been tested on current versions of Java 17+ and Docker 24+.

What will you learn?

• How to write a Dockerfile for a Spring Boot application with multi-stage builds and reduce the image from 500 MB to 100 MB.
• How to use Docker Compose to run a full stack: PostgreSQL + Redis + Java backend + Nginx.
• How to organize seamless integration of Docker into an existing Maven/Gradle project using plugins (Jib, Spotify docker-maven-plugin).
• How to test containerized applications with Testcontainers — without mocks and stubs.
• How to configure health checks, graceful shutdown, and resource management (CPU, memory) for Java containers.
• How to secure containers: vulnerability scanning, minimal privileges, secrets, and environment variables.

This book will become your desktop reference for containerizing Java applications. You will not only study the theory but also get ready-made recipes and templates that can be immediately applied in real projects. Make your Java applications truly modern and portable!