🚀 Ultimate Guide: Installing Docker & Docker Compose on Ubuntu in One Go!

D: Setting up a development environment can be tricky, but with Docker, you can simplify dependency management and ensure consistency across different machines. 🛠️ In this guide, we’ll walk through installing Docker Engine and Docker Compose on Ubuntu in a single, streamlined process.

🔧 Prerequisites

Before diving in, make sure you have:
✔ Ubuntu (20.04 LTS or later recommended)
✔ Terminal access (with sudo privileges)
✔ Stable internet connection

🐧 Step 1: Update & Install Dependencies

First, update your package list and install necessary tools:

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

This ensures your system is up-to-date and ready for Docker.

🐋 Step 2: Add Docker’s Official GPG Key & Repository

Docker provides its own repository for secure installations.

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

This adds Docker’s official package source.

⚡ Step 3: Install Docker Engine

Now, install Docker:

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

Verify installation by checking Docker’s version:

docker --version
# Output: Docker version 20.10.12, build e91ed57

🎉 Docker is now running!

🧩 Step 4: Install Docker Compose

Docker Compose helps manage multi-container apps. Install it with:

sudo curl -L "https://github.com/docker/compose/releases/latest/download/docker-compose-$(uname -s)-$(uname -m)" -o /usr/local/bin/docker-compose
sudo chmod +x /usr/local/bin/docker-compose

Check if it works:

docker-compose --version
# Output: Docker Compose version v2.3.3

🛠 Step 5: Post-Installation Steps

1. Run Docker Without sudo (Optional)

By default, Docker requires sudo. To avoid this, add your user to the docker group:

sudo usermod -aG docker $USER
newgrp docker  # Refresh group changes

Now, test Docker without sudo:

docker run hello-world

(You should see a welcome message! 🎊)

2. Enable Docker on Startup (Optional)

To start Docker automatically on boot:

sudo systemctl enable docker

🚀 Bonus: Test with a Simple Docker Compose Example

Let’s deploy an Nginx web server using docker-compose.yml:

version: '3'
services:
  web:
    image: nginx:latest
    ports:
      - "8080:80"

Run it with:

docker-compose up -d

Visit http://localhost:8080 to see Nginx running! 🖥️

🔥 Troubleshooting Common Issues

❌ “Permission Denied” when running Docker?
→ Ensure your user is in the docker group (groups $USER).

❌ Docker Compose not found?
→ Check if /usr/local/bin is in your PATH.

❌ Port already in use?
→ Change the port mapping (e.g., "8081:80").

✅ Conclusion

You’ve successfully installed Docker and Docker Compose on Ubuntu! 🎉 Now you can:

• 🐳 Run containers effortlessly
• 🧩 Manage multi-service apps with Compose
• 🚀 Streamline your development workflow

👉 Pro Tip: Explore Docker’s official docs for advanced features!

Happy Dockerizing! 🐋💻