Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

AWS Cloud9 VS Docker

Compare AWS Cloud9 VS Docker and see what are their differences

AWS Cloud9 logo AWS Cloud9

AWS Cloud9 is a cloud-based integrated development environment (IDE) that lets you write, run, and debug your code with just a browser.

Docker logo Docker

Docker is an open platform that enables developers and system administrators to create distributed applications.
  • AWS Cloud9 Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-04-23
  • Docker Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-07-25

AWS Cloud9

Pricing URL
-
$ Details
-
Release Date
-

Docker

Website
docker.com
$ Details
Release Date
2013 January
Startup details
Country
United States
State
California
Founder(s)
Solomon Hykes
Employees
50 - 99

AWS Cloud9 features and specs

  • Integrated Development Environment
    AWS Cloud9 provides a set of tools for coding, running, and debugging applications, making the development process more efficient.
  • Collaboration
    Real-time collaboration features enable multiple developers to work on the same project simultaneously, making teamwork easier.
  • Preconfigured Workspaces
    Preconfigured environments speed up the setup process, allowing developers to start coding immediately without worrying about configuration.
  • Serverless Development
    Supports serverless apps and provides seamless integration with AWS Lambda, helping developers build modern applications.
  • Remote Development
    Enables development from any location without the need for a powerful local machine, as the IDE runs in the cloud.
  • Cost Management
    Cloud9 uses pay-as-you-go pricing, potentially reducing costs compared to maintaining and upgrading local development environments.

Possible disadvantages of AWS Cloud9

  • Internet Dependency
    Requires an internet connection to access, which can be a limitation in areas with unstable or no internet access.
  • Resource Limitations
    Dependent on the allocated AWS resources, which may require scaling and can incur additional costs for high usage.
  • Latency Issues
    Potential latency issues could affect productivity, particularly when used over slower internet connections.
  • Learning Curve
    Users unfamiliar with cloud-based IDEs or the AWS ecosystem may require time to learn how to effectively use Cloud9.
  • Vendor Lock-In
    Being tightly integrated with AWS services, it may contribute to vendor lock-in, making it harder to switch to other cloud providers.
  • Cost Management Complexity
    The pay-as-you-go model can lead to unexpected costs if resource usage is not closely monitored and managed.

Docker features and specs

  • Portability
    Docker containers are designed to run consistently across different environments such as development, testing, and production, ensuring that software behaves the same regardless of where it's deployed.
  • Efficiency
    Docker containers share the host OS kernel and use fewer resources compared to traditional virtual machines, which allows for faster startups and reduced overhead.
  • Isolation
    Containers encapsulate the application and its dependencies in a separate environment, which minimizes conflicts between different applications' dependencies.
  • Scalability
    Docker makes it easier to scale applications quickly and manage resource allocation dynamically, which is particularly useful for microservices architectures.
  • Continuous Integration and Deployment
    Docker facilitates CI/CD processes by making it easier to automate the deployment pipeline, resulting in faster code releases and more frequent updates.
  • Community and Ecosystem
    A vast community and a rich ecosystem of tools and pre-built images in Docker Hub, enabling you to quickly find and reuse code and solutions.

Possible disadvantages of Docker

  • Complexity
    While Docker can simplify certain aspects of deployment, it adds a layer of complexity to the infrastructure that might require specialized knowledge and training.
  • Security
    Containers share the host OS kernel, which can pose security risks if an attacker gains access to the kernel. Proper isolation and security measures must be implemented.
  • Persistent Data
    Managing persistent data in Docker can be challenging, as containers are ephemeral and the default storage solutions are not always suitable for all applications.
  • Monitoring and Debugging
    Traditional monitoring and debugging tools might not work well with containerized applications, requiring specialized tools and approaches which can complicate troubleshooting.
  • Performance Overhead
    Although lighter than virtual machines, Docker containers can still introduce performance overheads, especially when multiple containers are running simultaneously.
  • Compatibility
    Not all software and systems are fully compatible with Docker, which can limit its use in certain legacy applications and complex environments.

Analysis of AWS Cloud9

Overall verdict

  • AWS Cloud9 is generally considered a good option for developers, especially those working within the AWS ecosystem. Its cloud-based nature allows for easy access from anywhere, and the environment simplifies the process of scaling applications. However, for developers not working with AWS services, or those who prefer offline development, it might not be the ideal choice.

Why this product is good

  • AWS Cloud9 is a cloud-based integrated development environment (IDE) that is particularly beneficial for developers who need a robust and flexible environment. It offers seamless integration with AWS services, making it easier to develop, test, and deploy applications in the cloud. Cloud9 supports a wide array of programming languages, provides tools for real-time collaboration, and includes features like code hinting, debugging, and the ability to work on serverless applications.

Recommended for

  • Developers who frequently use AWS services
  • Teams that require real-time collaboration on code
  • Developers who need a browser-based IDE
  • Those looking to leverage the power of serverless computing within AWS

Analysis of Docker

Overall verdict

  • Docker is considered a strong choice for containerization due to its robust feature set, community support, and ecosystem. It is praised for making applications more portable and for reducing 'it works on my machine' issues. However, like any technology, it has a learning curve and may not be necessary for simpler projects.

Why this product is good

  • Docker is a widely-used platform that simplifies and accelerates the process of developing, testing, and deploying applications by using containerization technology. It allows developers to package applications and their dependencies into lightweight, portable containers that can run consistently across any environment. This greatly enhances efficiency, scalability, and collaboration within development teams.

Recommended for

  • Developers seeking to streamline application deployment across multiple environments
  • Teams looking for consistency in application performance and operations
  • Organizations that require scalable solutions for microservices architectures
  • Projects that benefit from CI/CD practices and need automation in deployment pipelines

AWS Cloud9 videos

Introducing AWS Cloud9 - AWS Online Tech Talks

More videos:

  • Review - Introduction to AWS Cloud9

Docker videos

What is Docker in 5 minutes

More videos:

  • Tutorial - What is Docker? Why it's popular and how to use it to save money (tutorial)
  • Review - Real World PHP Dockerfile Review, from a #Docker Captain

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to AWS Cloud9 and Docker)
IDE
100 100%
0% 0
Developer Tools
0 0%
100% 100
Text Editors
100 100%
0% 0
Containers As A Service
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare AWS Cloud9 and Docker

AWS Cloud9 Reviews

8 Best Replit Alternatives & Competitors in 2022 (Free & Paid) - Software Discover
AWS cloud9 is a cloud-based integrated development environment (Ide) That lets you write, run, and debug your code with just a browser. AWS cloud9 amazon web services.
Top 10 Visual Studio Alternatives
AWS Cloud9 is a cloud-based coordinated advancement system. It is a server that allows the users to type, initiate or operate and repair the code by only using the browser. It contains an editor program for code, error-removing system, and endpoint. Cloud9 has all the important tools for general programming languages, that includes,
12 Best Online IDE and Code Editors to Develop Web Applications
There are no additional charges for using Cloud9. You can connect Cloud9 to an existing/new AWS compute instance, and you pay only for that instance. Itโ€™s also possible to connect to a third-party server over SSH โ€” for exactly no fee! ๐Ÿ™‚
Source: geekflare.com
Ruby IDE: The 9 Best IDEs for Ruby on Rails Development
Here we are talking about a different animal all together โ€“ Cloud9. Cloud9 offers development environment for almost all programming languages including Ruby. Cloud9 is fast becoming popular among medium to large enterprises and companies like Heroku, Soundcloud, Mailchimp and Mozilla etc. are already using Cloud9.
Source: noeticforce.com

Docker Reviews

Exploring 7 Efficient Alternatives to MAMP for Local Development Environments
Though not specifically designed for PHP development, Docker offers a containerized approach to create, deploy, and run applications. It enables easy installation of PHP, web servers, and databases within containers, facilitating quick and consistent development environment setups.
Source: medium.com
Top 6 Alternatives to XAMPP for Local Development Environments
Docker - A containerization platform that allows developers to package applications and their dependencies into containers. Docker Compose can be used to define multi-container application stacks, including web servers, databases, and other services. Features powerful portability and consistency, supports rapid building, sharing, and container management, suitable for...
Source: dev.to
The Top 7 Kubernetes Alternatives for Container Orchestration
Docker uses images as templates to create new containers using Docker engine commands such as Build -t or run -d.
Kubernetes Alternatives 2023: Top 8 Container Orchestration Tools
Docker is an open-source platform for building, managing, deploying containerized applications. Swarm is a native feature in Docker with a group of virtual or physical machines that lets you schedule, cluster, and run Docker applications. It is a Docker alternative for Kubernetes that provides high portability, agility, and high availability.
Top 12 Kubernetes Alternatives to Choose From in 2023
Docker Swarm is a native clustering and orchestration solution provided by Docker, the leading containerization platform.
Source: humalect.com

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Docker should be more popular than AWS Cloud9. It has been mentiond 80 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

AWS Cloud9 mentions (39)

  • Serverless Data Processing on AWS : AWS Project
    AWS Cloud9 is a cloud-based integrated development environment (IDE) that lets you write, run, and debug your code with just a browser. It includes a code editor, debugger, and terminal. Cloud9 comes pre-packaged with essential tools for popular programming languages and the AWS Command Line Interface (CLI) pre-installed so you donโ€™t need to install files or configure your laptop for this workshop. Your Cloud9... - Source: dev.to / over 1 year ago
  • Codespaces but open-source, client-only, and unopinionated
    AWS has Cloud9[1] though it's worth pointing out that it's not an exact a 1:1 and may require some elbow grease to use in the same manner[2]. 1. https://aws.amazon.com/cloud9/ 2. https://aws.amazon.com/blogs/architecture/field-notes-use-aws-cloud9-to-power-your-visual-studio-code-ide/ (2021). - Source: Hacker News / about 3 years ago
  • How does working with files through AWS work, do you save them onto the AWS console?
    If you just want to run an IDE for Python in the cloud, take a look at AWS Cloud9 (that would cost something however). You could get your code into AWS and sync your local changes using a source code repository, e.g. On GitHub or GitLab. Source: about 3 years ago
  • Best web-based IDEs?
    Not sure why you won't use replit but AWS has Cloud9 https://aws.amazon.com/cloud9/. Source: over 3 years ago
  • Taking my AWS CCP Exam today, any additional notes help, feel pretty good about the information Iโ€™ve reviewed, but please feel free to drop advice or notes.
    As I mentioned in a previous post, cloud9 was not in the course I was studying from, and not in the practice exams I solved. It came in my exam. Https://aws.amazon.com/cloud9/. Source: over 3 years ago
View more

Docker mentions (80)

  • Simplifying basic (genAI) web app deployment with serverless
    Cloud Run (GCR) -- the latest serverless platform; OCI-compliant containers (Docker, Buildpacks, etc.) Cloud Functions (GCF) -- originally serverless functions to compete with AWS Lambda; latest generation rebranded as Cloud Run Functions. - Source: dev.to / 8 months ago
  • How to prompt Gemini CLI to improve your Dockerfile
    One of the best benefits of Docker is that it helps you make your software multi-environment friendly, so you can use the same (or similar) config from local dev to production. Having a Dockerfile for every environment kind of defeats the purpose. Optimizing it means using env vars and keeping the overall architecture more abstract. - Source: dev.to / 10 months ago
  • Why NGINX Still Powers the Modern Web in 2025: Part 1
    Before we begin, ensure you have Docker installed on your system. You can download it from Docker's official website. - Source: dev.to / 11 months ago
  • Does it Make Sense to Run WordPress in Docker?
    You can use Docker to spin up an instance of WordPress on your local computer and in the cloud. But does it make sense to use WordPress in Docker? - Source: dev.to / about 1 year ago
  • Guide: Deploy Ghost with Docker on Sliplane
    Ghost is an open source blogging and newsletter platform designed for professional publishers. In this guide, I want to show you, how you can spin up and deploy your own instance of Ghost using Docker and Sliplane. - Source: dev.to / about 1 year ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing AWS Cloud9 and Docker, you can also consider the following products

Codeanywhere - Codeanywhere is a complete toolset for web development. Enabling you to edit, collaborate and run your projects from any device.

Kubernetes - Kubernetes is an open source orchestration system for Docker containers

Koding - A new way for developers to work.

Google App Engine - A powerful platform to build web and mobile apps that scale automatically.

Follett Destiny Library Manager - Follett Destiny Library Manager is a complete library management system that can be accessed from anywhere.

Apache Karaf - Apache Karaf is a lightweight, modern and polymorphic container powered by OSGi.