Part 1, Install Docker and Docker Compose

Here’s a step-by-step guide to install Docker and Docker Compose on Debian 12 Bookworm

Step 1: Update System Packages

Ensure your system packages are up to date before starting the installation.

Step 2: Install Required Dependencies

Install packages that allow apt to use HTTPS and required tools for adding Docker’s official repository.

Step 3: Add Docker’s Official GPG Key

You need to add Docker’s GPG key to verify the packages.

Step 4: Set Up Docker Repository

Add Docker’s official repository to your system.

Step 5: Install Docker Engine

Update the package database and install Docker.

Step 6: Verify Docker Installation

Check if Docker is installed and running.

(Optional) Add your user to the docker group to avoid needing sudo for Docker commands:

You’ll need to log out and log back in for this change to take effect, or apply

Step 7: Install Docker Compose

Now install Docker Compose, which is a tool to define and run multi-container Docker applications.

Make the binary executable:

Verify the installation:

Step 8: Enable Docker to Start on Boot

Enable the Docker service to automatically start on system boot.

Step 9: Test Docker and Docker Compose

You can run a simple Docker container to verify everything is set up properly:

For Docker Compose, create a simple YAML file (docker-compose.yml) and run it:

Run the following command:

Part 1, Summary

Now, Docker and Docker Compose are installed on your Debian 12 system, ready to manage containerized applications!

This guide will fit well into your blog post as a detailed tutorial for preparing Debian 12 to run Docker containers.

Part 2, Running Containers with Docker

Running Docker containers is straightforward once Docker and Docker Compose are installed. Here’s a basic guide on how to run containers.

Step 1: Pull a Docker Image

Docker images are pre-configured applications that you can run in containers. You can search for and pull images from Docker Hub.

For example, to pull an official Nginx image, run:

Step 2: Run a Docker Container

Once the image is pulled, you can start a container. For example, to run an Nginx container:

• --name my-nginx: Assigns a name to the container.
• -p 80:80: Maps port 80 on the host to port 80 on the container.
• -d: Runs the container in detached mode (in the background).
• nginx: The name of the image.

You can now visit http://localhost in your browser, and you should see the Nginx welcome page.

Step 3: Check Running Containers

To see all running containers:

To see all containers, including stopped ones:

Step 4: Stop and Remove Containers

To stop a running container:

To remove a stopped container:

You can also stop and remove containers in one command:

Running Containers with Docker Compose

Docker Compose is useful for managing multi-container environments with a single configuration file.

Step 1: Create a docker-compose.yml File

Here’s an example for running WordPress and MySQL:

Step 2: Start the Containers

Navigate to the directory containing your docker-compose.yml file and run:

This command will pull the required images, create containers, and start them in detached mode.

Step 3: Check Running Containers with Docker Compose

To see running containers managed by Docker Compose:

Step 4: Stop and Remove Containers

To stop the running containers:

This command stops and removes all containers defined in the docker-compose.yml file.

Step 5: View Logs

To view logs of your services:

You can specify a service to view only its logs, for example:

Part 2, Summary

With Docker, you can easily run single containers, while Docker Compose allows for managing multi-container applications. This should give you the foundation to start running containers on Debian 12 and add more advanced setups to your blog post later.