Docker Inc. Launches Docker Desktop Enterprise
At the DockerCon Europe 2018 conference, Docker Inc. today launched Docker Desktop Enterprise, an instance of the widely employed tool for building containerized applications that sports a graphical user interface (GUI) rather than requiring developers to work with lower-level Docker command lines.
Jenny Fong, director of product marketing for Docker Inc., says Docker Desktop Enterprise should make it easier for traditional enterprise developers to build applications because they no longer need to have specific Docker container expertise. A graphical interface now makes it possible to auto-generate Docker artifacts, says Fong. Docker Desktop Enterprise, which can be installed with a single click, is also designed to become part of a larger integrated development environment (IDE) such as Visual Studio and Eclipse.
Docker Desktop Enterprise also includes support for application templates that enable organizations to specific a specific look and feel to their applications, in addition to configurable version packs that make sure the local instance of Docker Desktop Enterprise is a precise copy of the production environment where the application will be deployed. That capability is intended to eliminate much of the friction that results when a developer creates an application on their laptop that for one reason or another can’t run in the production environment, says Fong.
Finally, Docker Desktop Enterprise also contains tools intended to make it simpler for IT organizations to distribute it. Docker Desktop Enterprise can be a packaged as standard MSI (Win) and PKG (Mac) distribution files. That capability will make it easier for IT organizations to ensure every developer is working with the same version of Docker Desktop Enterprise by allowing IT operations teams to distribute Docker Desktop Enterprise using any number of third-party endpoint management applications, says Fong.
Docker Desktop Enterprise represents the first time Docker Inc. is selling a commercial application development tool. Most existing Docker applications were developed using Docker Desktop, an open source tool that has been installed more than 3 million times in the last year by more than 2 million developers, claims Docker Inc.
At DockerCon Europe Docker Inc. recognized some of those efforts with the launch of the Docker Customer Innovation Awards. Societe Generale was presented with the Digital Transformation Award for transforming how the bank develops its software by building a container platform it employed to migrate thousands of its applications to the cloud. Award finalists included Bosch, Liberty Mutual and MetLife.
Docker Inc. also recognized Desigual with a Rising Star award for building a brand new in-store shopping experience app in less than five months. Other Rising Star finalists include BCG, Citizens Bank and The Dutch Ministry of Justice.
There’s no doubt that while Docker Inc. continues to contribute to the development of the Docker technology it pioneered, much of the focus of the company is now squarely on enterprise IT organizations willing to pay for additional tools and services. It remains to be seen to what degree Docker Inc. can monetize those opportunities in the face of what is sure to be stiff competition. But whatever the outcome, the one thing that is for certain is Docker containers are now here to stay in the enterprise.
