# Practical Docker for Developers and DevOps: From Containers to Production Deployment Canonical URL: https://cretisoftbooks.com/en/books/docker-for-developers-devops-production-deployment Book page: https://cretisoftbooks.com/en/books/docker-for-developers-devops-production-deployment Author: Stellan Cross Language: en Description: You know how to run docker run and maybe even write a Dockerfile, yet the moment your app needs to survive on a real server—with a database, a domain, and HTTPS—the scattered tutorials stop making sense. You are not alone. Most developers and DevOps engineers hit the same wall: they understand container basics but have never seen a clear, end-to-end path from a local demo to a production deployment that actually stays up. This is the gap this practical Docker book fills. Practical Docker for Developers and DevOps: From Containers to Production Deployment does what few container guides attempt: it follows a single, coherent journey. It starts with installing Docker on Windows, macOS, or Ubuntu, then moves through images, Dockerfiles, and Docker Compose, and does not stop until your backend is running on a VPS behind Nginx with a properly configured firewall and an auto-renewing Let's Encrypt HTTPS certificate. The goal is not just to make you fluent in commands—it is to make you capable of owning a containerized system in production. • A workflow that mirrors real work: learn the exact steps to package Node.js and NestJS apps into optimized, multi-stage Docker images instead of collecting unrelated Docker tips. • Docker Compose as a production tool: go beyond 'docker compose up' for local development; create production Compose files with restart policies, resource limits, and internal networks that keep databases and Redis isolated from the public internet. • Deployment without magic: follow a concrete path from choosing a VPS and installing Docker Engine to pushing your source code, starting the stack, wiring a domain through Nginx, and securing it with HTTPS. • Operational discipline that prevents disaster: pick up daily habits for reading logs, monitoring CPU and RAM usage with docker stats, and running safe cleanups so you never delete production data by accident. • Security grounded in practice: learn why exposing a database port is a real risk, how to protect .env files and secrets, and which firewall rules limit SSH and open exposure to only what your application needs. The book is built for a specific reader: a backend developer, full-stack engineer, or a DevOps newcomer who has played with containers but needs a reliable reference for building, shipping, and running an application with confidence. It pairs hands-on instructions with clear explanations of why each step matters, so you can adapt the patterns to your own projects—not just copy-paste a configuration. If you are tired of assembling container knowledge from blog posts and Stack Overflow answers, and you want one resource that ties development, deployment, and operations together, this guide gives you a repeatable path to follow. The only thing standing between your code and a live, secure URL is a method. This is that method. AI summary: Practical Docker for Developers and DevOps by Stellan Cross is a technical guide that walks readers from Docker installation and container basics to production deployment. It covers Dockerfiles, Docker Compose, Node.js and NestJS applications, VPS setup, Nginx reverse proxy, HTTPS via Let's Encrypt, security practices, and operational monitoring. The book targets backend developers, full-stack engineers, and DevOps newcomers who need a structured path to deploy containerized applications in production. Target audience: Backend developers, full-stack engineers, and DevOps newcomers who understand basic Docker commands and need a comprehensive guide to deploying, securing, and operating containerized applications in production. Audience persona: A backend developer who knows how to run a container but struggles to deploy a reliable multi-service stack with a database, domain, and HTTPS, and wants a step-by-step production roadmap. Search intent: Searchers are looking for a comprehensive, hands-on guide that takes them from Docker basics to production deployment, covering Compose, VPS, Nginx, HTTPS, and security. Unique angle: The book provides a single end-to-end path from Docker basics to production deployment on a VPS with Nginx and HTTPS, emphasizing practical, security-conscious operations, unlike many guides that stop at local development. Content type: developer guide Answer snippets: - This book teaches Docker from foundational concepts to production deployment, including Dockerfiles, Compose, and VPS hosting. - It covers Docker Compose for multi-service environments, with databases like MongoDB and PostgreSQL, and Redis. - Readers will learn to deploy a backend with Nginx reverse proxy and HTTPS using Let's Encrypt. - The book includes practical security practices such as protecting .env files and avoiding exposed database ports. - It is written for developers who already know basic Docker commands and need a production roadmap. Key topics: Docker, Containers, Dockerfiles, Docker Compose, VPS Deployment, Nginx Reverse Proxy, HTTPS, Security, Monitoring, Node.js, NestJS, Volumes Entities: Docker, Docker Compose, Nginx, Let's Encrypt, Node.js, NestJS, MongoDB, PostgreSQL, MySQL, Redis, Dockerfile, VPS Problems solved: - Inconsistent environments between development and production - Uncertainty about packaging applications into Docker images - Difficulty managing multiple services with Docker Compose - Deploying to a VPS with reverse proxy and HTTPS - Security risks like exposed database ports and leaking secrets - Operational issues like log monitoring and safe cleanup Who should read: - Backend developers using Node.js or NestJS - Full-stack engineers responsible for deployment - DevOps newcomers wanting to learn Docker operations - Developers moving from local Docker to production - Engineers seeking to secure containerized applications Who should not read: - Absolute beginners who have never used Docker commands - Readers seeking deep Kubernetes or orchestration content - Those needing cloud-specific managed services rather than VPS-based deployment - Readers wanting a conceptual overview without hands-on exercises FAQ: Q: What is the main focus of this Docker book? A: The book covers the entire Docker journey, from installation to production deployment, including Dockerfiles, Docker Compose, and VPS hosting. Q: Is this book suitable for beginners? A: It assumes basic Docker command knowledge and focuses on building production-ready skills. Q: What technologies are covered in deployment? A: It includes Node.js, NestJS, MongoDB, PostgreSQL, MySQL, Redis, Nginx, and Let's Encrypt for HTTPS. Q: Does the book include security practices? A: Yes, it covers protecting secrets, avoiding exposed database ports, and configuring firewalls. Q: How is this book different from online tutorials? A: It provides a structured, sequential guide with a complete real-world project that ties all concepts together. SEO keywords: Docker deployment guide, Docker for developers, Docker and DevOps, Docker Compose production, containerized web application deployment, Docker VPS deployment, Nginx reverse proxy Docker, Docker security best practices, Docker Compose multi-service, learning Docker from scratch Table of contents: - Introduction - Docker Foundations - What Is Docker and Why Should You Learn It? - The Problems Docker Solves - How Docker Works - Who Docker Is For and When to Use It - Containers, Images, and Virtual Machines - What Is a Container? - What Is an Image? - How Docker Differs from Virtual Machines - Installing and Running Docker for the First Time - Installing Docker on Windows, macOS, and Ubuntu - Running Your First Container - Checking Docker and Fixing Basic Installation Issues - Working with Containers and Images - Basic Docker Commands - Running, Stopping, and Restarting Containers - Listing Containers and Images - Removing Containers, Images, and Unused Resources - Logs, Shell, Ports, and Environment Variables - Viewing Logs and Accessing a Container - Mapping Ports Between the Host and the Container - Passing Environment Variables and Configuring Restart Policies - Managing Data with Volumes - Why Containers Need Volumes - Named Volumes and Bind Mounts - Backing Up Data from Volumes - Dockerfiles and Application Packaging - Writing Your First Dockerfile - The Basic Structure of a Dockerfile - Building an Image from a Dockerfile - Running a Container from Your Custom Image - Dockerizing Node.js and NestJS Applications - A Dockerfile for a Node.js Application - A Dockerfile for a NestJS Application - Connecting the Application to a Database in a Container - Optimizing Images for Production - Using .dockerignore - Reducing Image Size - Multi-Stage Builds - Docker Compose and Multi-Service Systems - What Is Docker Compose? - When Do You Need Docker Compose? - The Structure of a docker-compose.yml File - Running Multiple Services with One Command - Databases and Redis with Docker Compose - Running MongoDB with Docker Compose - Running PostgreSQL or MySQL with Docker Compose - Running Redis with Docker Compose - Networks, Environment Variables, and Data in Compose - Containers Communicating by Service Name - Managing Environment Variables with a .env File - Volumes, Networks, and Restart Policies in Docker Compose - Deploying Applications to a Server - Preparing a VPS for Docker - Choosing a VPS and Installing Ubuntu Server - Installing Docker on a VPS - Checking CPU, RAM, Disk Space, and Firewall - Deploying a Backend with Docker Compose - Uploading Source Code to the Server - Creating a Production Compose File - Running the Backend, Database, and Redis on the VPS - Nginx, Domain, and HTTPS - What Is an Nginx Reverse Proxy? - Pointing a Domain to a Docker Application - Setting Up HTTPS for the Application - Docker Operations and Security - Debugging and Maintaining Docker - Reading Logs and Finding Container Errors - Checking CPU, RAM, and Docker Disk Usage - Cleaning Up Docker Safely - Basic Docker Security - Do Not Expose Databases to the Internet - Protecting .env Files, Passwords, and Secrets - Firewall, Ports, and Server Access Control - Practice and Reference - A Complete Real-World Project - Building a Backend + MongoDB + Redis System - Building a Backend + Nginx + Domain + HTTPS System - Running Ollama or an Internal Application with Docker Sample EPUB: https://cretisoftbooks.com/book-samples/6a407c37d5a0c3c004bade8c-1788405091997-practical-docker-for-developers-and-devops-from-containers-to-production-deployment-epub-mau-20.epub Purchase links: - Google Books: https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=C7gHEgAAQBAJ