At the DockerCon 2019, Docker released its Docker Desktop Enterprise 3.0 also known as DDE, which aims to get developers to quickly work with containers without first being a Docker expert. Developers can work with frameworks and languages of choice while IT can securely configure, deploy and manage developer environments that align to corporate standards and practices. This reflects Docker positioning on DevOps which plays a significant role from the start of development process right to the end of production deployment.
Typically, one thinks of Docker during the application deployment stage rather than the development phase. However, with DDE it shows the importance of getting developers onboard with Docker, thus allowing organizations to rapidly deliver containerized applications from development to production while eliminating ‘works on my machine’ problems once and for all.
Let’s look at what all it offers:

Supported Open Source

Docker Desktop Enterprise is easy to install and integrates with the host OS framework, networking and filesystem. DDE can be installed on MAC and Windows 10 workstation. Currently, only Windows 10 Pro or Enterprise is supported as Hyper-V and Containers Windows features must be enabled, a feature which is not available on Windows 10 Home.

Application Designer

DDE comes with an application designer which allows developers to choose a preconfigured application template or define a custom service for their application creation. Thanks to the preconfigured templates, developers can focus on their responsibilities to code and build business logic on a secured platform – endorsed by application architects and security teams. This also compels consistency in app runtime environment from the start of development right to the deployment in production which in return bridges the gaps in most cases between the dev and ops environment.

Application Designer template options

Docker Kubernetes Service

Kubernetes service on Docker

Docker Kubernetes Services (DKS) comes with Docker Enterprise 3.0 – which is the only Kubernetes offering that provides consistency across development lifecycles from developers workstation to production servers. DKS allows a developer to easily switch between different version packs to match the exact Kubernetes version in production eliminating the friction between developers and ops – enabling faster delivery of applications into production.

Why Docker Desktop Enterprise?

Docker Desktop Community does not provide any control to IT organizations for centralizing management. It is the key to any organization in ensuring safe development standards and configurations in order to minimize security risks. Docker Desktop Enterprise is delivered in standard formats (PKG, MSI) that can be managed by centralized IT tools to roll-out, install, configure, upgrade and secure DDE on the developers’ desktops. IT organizations would also be certain that developers are working with the same enterprise grade platform across different environment and security level which matches production system. The key benefits of DDE is in simplifying developer pipeline activities through automation and with the Docker Desktop Enterprise graphical user interface (GUI), Docker build artifacts will be auto-generated to reduce the complexity of the DevOps pipeline.

Docker Desktop Edition comparison table

With the new Docker Desktop Enterprise, developers and IT teams alike can be assured of simpler and a more secure way of developing application and deploying it in production. Thus, reducing time to market and bridging the gap of business expectations. Have you got started yet?