Containerized Applications - Google Cloud Lecture

What are Containerized Applications?

• Definition: Applications run in isolated packages of code called containers.
• Components: Include all necessary dependencies (e.g., libraries, binaries, configuration files, frameworks) to run on any host OS.
• Benefits:
  • Faster, more efficient, secure application development.
  • Run on any host OS independently.
  • Isolation from other software and hardware.
• Google's Usage: All Google services (Search, YouTube, Gmail) run on containers.
• Tools: Kubernetes and Knative developed by Google for managing containers.

Benefits of Containerized Applications

• Isolation: Each application is in an isolated environment, minimizing fault impact.
• Portability: Operates independently of OS, allowing deployment on various environments.
• Lightweight: Does not carry an OS version, making them more efficient than VMs.
• Efficiency: Share computing kernel and resources, allowing more containers per machine.
• Scalability: Easily add container instances to meet demand.

How Application Containerization Technology Works

• Concept: Run an executable package with all dependencies on a host OS.
• Container Image: Blueprint of the container system, copied into instances when running.
• Container Engine: Platform to execute containers, e.g., Docker, CRI-O.
• Orchestration Tools: Manage containerized applications, e.g., Kubernetes.

Comparing Containers vs. Virtual Machines

• Virtual Machines (VMs): Share resources of a single server, include their OS.
• Containers: Do not include an OS, share the host OS.
• Resource Efficiency: Containers use compute resources more efficiently than VMs.

Types of App Containers

Application Containers

• Characteristics: Stateless, typically run a single process.
• Usage: Orchestrated by tools like Kubernetes.
• Popularity: Docker is the most popular.

System Containers

• Characteristics: Older, function like VMs but with less computing overhead.
• Usage: Used in monolithic, legacy applications.

Containerization Tools

• Docker: Popular open-source platform for Linux-based containers.
• LXC: Run multiple Linux systems simultaneously using a single kernel.
• CRI-O: Container Runtime Interface for Kubernetes, often replacing Docker.

Related Products and Services

• Google Kubernetes Engine (GKE): Managed service for running containerized applications.
• Anthos: Consistent Kubernetes experience across multiple environments.
• Cloud Build: Serverless CI/CD platform for building, testing, and deploying.
• Cloud Run: Fully managed environment for scalable containerized apps.
• Artifact Registry: Manage and secure Docker container images.

Next Steps with Containerization

• Start building with Google Cloud's $300 free credits.
• Contact Google Cloud for sales support.
• Consider working with a trusted partner for cloud solutions.