Guidance needed - When to use Docker and when to install apps as regular apps?

While I agree with macom, I'm going to play devil.

If the abstraction can't be jailed in a tidy manner, I don't use docker. I'm working with a homelab for sensor data and while it's technically "containerable", it becomes curiously buggy due to various system comms/protocols. For instance 1 of the 2 I've tried didn't like SPI and the other didn't like multiple devices on the I²C (although I think that was a parser/software limitation).

Containers are also a nightmare for any development work at all as adding even a simple custom syntax colouring file can be frustrating, never mind full modules and this could possibly extend to "office" programs as well (not sure though).

Then there is performance. While you can run a web server in a container on a fancier computer, running one in a container on a cheap VPS/host isn't a great idea and if you had a super-awesome web server, it wouldn't make sense either. Also, I have this ever-running... never-ending... web based "Game ROM/Audio Jukebox" project I started in node.js (4 years ago :-/) that when parsing audio data or hashing checksums it creates such a huge variance in RAM and core usage that there's no real way to scale that in Docker that makes Docker "worth it" (or any containers really).

But yes, containers are great when you just want to try something out or the amount of configuration to the system could be considerable (I still have Mailu and Gitea under Docker for those reasons... Mailu especially is kind of a beast).

Zitat von lotsofbytes

I (think I) understand the basic idea of docker and so I see the benefits for a developer who wants to develop something that works in every Linux environment. But when is it beneficial for a home-server user to do a docker install over a regular install?

Like macom said, it keeps dependencies inside the container, thus not touching/messing with any of your base install.

Zitat von lotsofbytes

To make it more specific, here's some of the stuff I'm considering installing asap:

NextCloud
Wireguard
Pi-hole + Unbound
OnlyOffice
MakeMKV
Handbrake
Bitwarden
Jellyfin
NGINX reverse proxy
UFW
Fail2Ban
...

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Haven't checked them but if you find one on docker hub you'll be fine. Wish you much fun with your SWAG

Zitat von olduser

Then there is performance. While you can run a web server in a container on a fancier computer, running one in a container on a cheap VPS/host isn't a great idea and if you had a super-awesome web server, it wouldn't make sense either.

I'm running containers on a couple of different systems. A Maker Board on the low end and a Xeon on the high end. Neither one of them has issues with docker. One of them has some noticeable workloads to do.

Also check out some articles like that: https://netflixtechblog.com/th…e-at-netflix-3abfc096781b

Zitat von olduser

Also, I have this ever-running... never-ending... web based "Game ROM/Audio Jukebox" project I started in node.js (4 years ago :-/) that when parsing audio data or hashing checksums it creates such a huge variance in RAM and core usage that there's no real way to scale that in Docker that makes Docker "worth it" (or any containers really).

What is that kind of "Game ROM/Audio Jukebox" Project?

Greetings

David

Nah. I just thought when I first read that they renamed the container that it were an out of season april fools joke.

Greetings

David

Zitat von davidh2k

What is that kind of "Game ROM/Audio Jukebox" Project?

Greetings

David

It is or was or can be a Ui entirely for kids < 10 that can launch games/music. I finished the Ui in conception of what a kid would use (still needs the meta data junkie stuff for parents), but then back in node when I went to finish it up, I thought to myself what about a kids jukebox?... it's one of those projects.

The string speed of node makes it addicting to write text parsers, but the Ui is still what interests me the most as there seems to be jack shit for kids (really... there's nothing I've seen). From an adults perspective, the Ui makes nearly no sense so I'm proud of it :-).

Zitat von ryecoaaron

containers work just fine when using apps that are somewhat NAS related. If you trying to get sensor data over an i2c bus, I would say that isn't really something that should be done on a NAS.

I'd fully share this view

Zitat von ryecoaaron

And for a new user that is going to be using apps that work well in containers, why you would try to scare them away from using them by telling them obscure, non-NAS apps have issues??

Exactly