Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Docker VS CentOS

Compare Docker VS CentOS and see what are their differences

Note: These products don't have any matching categories. If you think this is a mistake, please edit the details of one of the products and suggest appropriate categories.

Docker logo Docker

Docker is an open platform that enables developers and system administrators to create distributed applications.

CentOS logo CentOS

CentOS is a community-supported, free and open source operating system based on Red Hat Enterprise...
  • Docker Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-07-25
  • CentOS Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-12-12

Docker

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

CentOS

Website
centos.org
Pricing URL
-
$ Details
-
Release Date
-

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.

CentOS features and specs

  • Stability
    CentOS is known for its stability and reliability since it's derived from the Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) sources.
  • Security
    Due to its enterprise-focused nature, CentOS benefits from robust security updates and patches that ensure a secure operating environment.
  • Cost
    CentOS is free to use and provides enterprise-grade features without the cost of a commercial license.
  • Community Support
    There is a large and active community that provides support, contributes to documentation, and shares knowledge through forums and other resources.
  • Compatibility
    CentOS offers excellent compatibility with various software and hardware due to its close alignment with RHEL.
  • Long-term support
    CentOS versions typically receive long-term support, making it suitable for servers and critical applications that require stability over time.

Possible disadvantages of CentOS

  • Delayed Updates
    Updates and new features in CentOS can be delayed since it is downstream from RHEL, which might be a drawback for users needing the latest features.
  • Enterprise Focus
    Its focus on enterprise environments means it may not have the latest or most diverse desktop environment options compared to other distributions.
  • Limited Commercial Support
    While community support is robust, professional or commercial support is limited compared to its upstream counterpart, RHEL.
  • Learning Curve
    CentOS can have a steeper learning curve for newcomers, especially those unfamiliar with RHEL-like systems.
  • Changes in Development Model
    Recent changes in the CentOS project, such as the shift to CentOS Stream, have caused concern and uncertainty in the community about its future direction and stability.

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

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

CentOS videos

CentOS 8 | Distro Review 23

More videos:

  • Review - CentOS 8 Review, Preview, & Walkthrough | 2019 | (Linux Beginners Guide)
  • Review - CentOS 8 Review | Distro Delves S2:Ep33

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Docker and CentOS)
Developer Tools
100 100%
0% 0
Operating Systems
0 0%
100% 100
Containers As A Service
100 100%
0% 0
Linux
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 Docker and CentOS

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

CentOS Reviews

Explore Top VestaCP Alternative: Find the Perfect Control Panel for Your Hosting Needs
Frequently shortened to CWP, CentOS Web Panel stands as an innovative web-based control panel meticulously crafted to elevate the management of web hosting environments and servers. What sets CWP apart is its exclusive dedication to servers fueled by the CentOS operating system. This strategic alignment with the robust CentOS OS enables CWP to adeptly target a specific niche...
Source: cyberpanel.net
Finding the Best Linux Distro for Your Organization
With CentOS 6 and 8 already EOL, CentOS 7 will still be community-supported through June 30, 2024. OpenLogic will support it well past that point, extending long-term support post EOL until 2029. For many businesses, this will be the lowest-risk option for the moment, giving them plenty of time to consider their go-forward Linux distro strategies. Migration and decommission...
Best Top 20 Ubuntu Linux Alternatives (Pros and Cons)
CentOS Linux works very well for high availability clustering. It contains native packages for DRBD which enables high availability.
11 Best Linux Distros For Programming And Developers [2020 Edition]
The installation and setup process of this Linux distro for programmers is almost similar to Fedora. To address your different software needs, it has a vast Red Hat Software Collection and CentOS repository. You can use its powerful YUM package manager to install and uninstall the application needed for your development.
Source: fossbytes.com

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Docker should be more popular than CentOS. It has been mentiond 74 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.

Docker mentions (74)

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CentOS mentions (8)

  • SUSE working on a RHEL fork
    First, it is important to state that Stream is not a rolling release, at least not in the sense that you are thinking. It is "rolling" within a major release, but so are plenty of Linux Distributions. This is also why the centos.org website stopped using "rolling", and started using "continuos" instead at December 2020 (commit). So anyone that keeps using this wording is intentionally being misleading or... Source: almost 2 years ago
  • Keeping Open Source Open: Rocky Linux
    I get that Red Hat has shown themselves to be less than trust worthy given the sunset of CentOS 8, the removal of the centos.org repo updates and the characterization of anyone who uses their software via a clone distro as being a "freeloader" or "parasite". Source: almost 2 years ago
  • what is the typical size of Linux updates?
    This might be a good use case for RHEL family distribution (such as CentOS Stream or AlmaLinux) or Debian. These are much longer lived distributions, and provide fewer update churn over time than other distributions. Source: about 2 years ago
  • How to learn Linux , what to learn in Linux , how to prove them i know linux?
    The easiest approach to this is to download CentOS 7 from centos.org. Source: almost 3 years ago
  • Wallpaper from CentOS
    I looked out for days now but didn’t find anything. I’m looking for the stock wallpaper from CentOS Stream. Like the background on their official website: Https://centos.org Does anybody have more luck or better sources than me? Thank you in advance. Source: over 3 years ago
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What are some alternatives?

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

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

Ubuntu - Ubuntu is a Debian Linux-based open source operating system for desktop computers.

Rancher - Open Source Platform for Running a Private Container Service

Fedora - Fedora creates an innovative, free, and open source platform for hardware, clouds, and containers that enables software developers and community members to build tailored solutions for their users.

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

Windows 10 - Windows 10 unveils new innovations & is better than ever. Shop for Windows 10 laptops, PCs, tablets, apps & more. Learn about new upcoming features.