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Docker Installation Guide

This guide provides step-by-step instructions to install Docker and Docker Compose on Linux, Windows, and macOS.

Linux Installation (Ubuntu/Debian)

Follow these steps to install Docker Engine using the official repository.

Prerequisites

Update your existing list of packages:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install -y apt-transport-https ca-certificates curl software-properties-common

Step 1: Add Docker’s Official GPG Key

curl -fsSL [https://download.docker.com/linux/ubuntu/gpg](https://download.docker.com/linux/ubuntu/gpg) | sudo gpg --dearmor -o /usr/share/keyrings/docker-archive-keyring.gpg

Step 2: Set Up the Repository

echo "deb [arch=$(dpkg --print-architecture) signed-by=/usr/share/keyrings/docker-archive-keyring.gpg] [https://download.docker.com/linux/ubuntu](https://download.docker.com/linux/ubuntu) $(lsb_release -cs) stable" | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/docker.list > /dev/null

Step 3: Install Docker Engine

sudo apt update
sudo apt install -y docker-ce docker-ce-cli containerd.io docker-compose-plugin

Step 4: Manage Docker as a Non-Root User

To run Docker commands without typing sudo:

sudo usermod -aG docker $USER

Note: Log out and log back in for this change to take effect.

Windows Installation

Docker Desktop on Windows uses WSL 2 (Windows Subsystem for Linux) for better performance.

Prerequisites

  • Windows 10 (64-bit: Pro, Enterprise, or Education) or Windows 11.
  • WSL 2 feature enabled on Windows.

Step 1: Download Docker Desktop

Download the official installer from the Docker website:

Step 2: Run the Installer

  1. Double-click Docker Desktop Installer.exe to run the wizard.
  2. Ensure the "Use WSL 2 instead of Hyper-V" option is checked on the configuration page.
  3. Follow the instructions, click Close and restart your computer if prompted.

Step 3: Start Docker Desktop

  • Launch Docker Desktop from the Start menu.
  • Accept the service agreement, and wait until the Docker status icon turns green in your system tray.

macOS Installation

Docker Desktop is available for both Intel and Apple Silicon (M1/M2/M3) Mac chips.

Prerequisites

Determine your Mac chip type (Go to Apple Menu -> About This Mac).

Step 1: Download Docker Desktop

Select the correct installer based on your processor:

Step 2: Installation

  1. Double-click the downloaded .dmg file to open it.
  2. Drag the Docker icon into your Applications folder.

Step 3: Launch Docker

  1. Open Docker from your Applications folder.
  2. Give Docker privileged permissions when prompted (required for networking tools).
  3. The Docker icon will appear in the top menu bar once it is running successfully.

Verification

To verify that Docker and Docker Compose are installed correctly on any operating system, open your terminal (or PowerShell/Command Prompt) and run:

Check Docker Version

docker --version

Check Docker Compose Version

docker compose version

Run a Test Container

docker run hello-world

Note: If you see a "Hello from Docker!" success message, your installation is complete and working correctly.