How to Install Docker: A Complete Guide for Beginners 🐳

Docker is an open source platform that has revolutionized container-based application deployment. It solves the “but it works on my machine…” problem caused by differences between development and production environments! ✨ In this guide, we’ll show you step-by-step how to install it for each major OS.

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🛠️ Preparation before installation

1. System Requirements.

   • 64-bit processor + 4 GB or more RAM (virtualization support required)
   • Windows/macOS: Latest version recommended
   • Linux: Kernel 3.10 or later (Ubuntu 20.04 LTS recommended)

2. Check if virtualization is enabled Enable VT-x (Intel) or AMD-V** in BIOS/UEFI settings (Windows: Ctrl+Shift+Esc → Performance tab → check “Virtualization: Enabled”)

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🖥️ Installing on Windows

**1. install WSL 2

wsl --install

> Make sure to reboot before proceeding

**2. Download Docker Desktop Run the installation file from the official site

**3. installation options

• Check Use WSL 2 ✅
• Restart after installation is complete

**4. verification command

docker --version
# Docker version 24.0.7, build afdd53b
docker run hello-world

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🍎 Installing on macOS

**1. download Docker Desktop Select the Apple Chip or Intel Chip version

**2. installation process

• Run the downloaded .dmg file
• Drag the Docker icon to the Applications folder
• Need to allow permissions on first run

**3. Setting up Rosetta (Apple Silicon) Run “`bash softwareupdate –install-rosetta

**4. Test the behavior
```bash
docker run -it ubuntu:22.04 /bin/bash
# root@a1b2c3d4:/#

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🐧 Installing on Linux (based on Ubuntu)

**1. Set up the repository

sudo apt update
sudo apt install ca-certificates curl gnupg
sudo install -m 0755 -d /etc/apt/keyrings
curl -fsSL https://download.docker.com/linux/ubuntu/gpg | sudo gpg --dearmor -o /etc/apt/keyrings/docker.gpg
sudo chmod a+r /etc/apt/keyrings/docker.gpg

**2. Add a repository

echo \
"deb [arch="$(dpkg --print-architecture)" signed-by=/etc/apt/keyrings/docker.gpg] https://download.docker.com/linux/ubuntu \
"$(. /etc/os-release && echo "$VERSION_CODENAME")" stable" | \
sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/docker.list > /dev/null

**3. Install Docker Engine

sudo apt update
sudo apt install docker-ce docker-ce-cli containerd.io

**4. Set permissions (required!)

sudo usermod -aG docker $USER # grant permissions to the current user
newgrp docker # apply group settings

**5. start the service automatically

sudo systemctl enable --now docker

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🧪 Verify installation & run first container

docker version # Check Client/Server version
docker run -d -p 80:80 docker/getting-started

> Access http://localhost in your browser → Check the “Docker Getting Started” page ✅

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🚀 Docker Basic Commands Checklist

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⚠️ Troubleshooting tips

1. “Permission denied” error: **Use sudo or change the user to docker → Enablesudoor add user todocker` group
2. WSL related error on Windows] → After running PowerShell administrator privileges:

   wsl --update
   wsl --shutdown

3. Network problems. → Change DNS settings: In /etc/docker/daemon.json, add { "dns": ["8.8.8.8"] } append

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🎯 Wrapping up

After installing Docker, Steps to apply the actual project:

1. Create Dockerfile → 2. Build the image (docker build) → 3. Run the container (docker run) Experience the magic of setting up your development environment from 1 hour to 5 minutes 🚀 !

> 📢 Note: Docker is a container technology, not a virtual machine. It features lighter and faster process isolation!

Install it now to start your container journey! Leave any questions in the comments 😊 #Docker #DevOps #Containerization