Imagine a world where you don’t need to npm install. Imagine if new project onboarding was as simple as npm start. Imagine all developers on your team were working in the exact same, preconfigured environment, isolated from the different set up of each one’s system, all the while without node_modules installed. Furthermore, what if this environment was as close to production as possible? This might all sound like click bait, but harnessing the power of Docker and containers, we can tame our JavaScript and quell the wars we wage against npm, as we struggle to get the code running. No more “works on my machine.”

Outline

• The problem

  • When dependencies fail us: typical solutions
  • All the dependencies we depend on (it’s more than you probably realize)

• The solution

  • Create an isolated, consistent dev environment with Docker
  • We can avoid ever having to install node_modules locally 😮

• Context

  • So what is Docker anyways?
  • What is a container?
  • What is an image?
  • Quick Docker examples for context

• Demo

  • Our Docker image for local development
  • npm start … with no node_modules 🤯
  • working on older versions of the app
  • bonus: faster CI builds

Requirements

A laptop is always nice for those who want to follow along with the examples or just browse their facebook timeline during the talk. Familiarity with node package managers and a typical node.js workflow is assumed. No prior knowledge of Docker is required … just pay close attention! Besides that, show up excited to learn about Docker, containers, and how you can mitigate your battles with npm.

Speaker bio

Hayden Braxton is a native resident of Richmond, Virginia in the US, currently working as a software engineer for Unboxed Technology. In his free time, you will probably find him writing JavaScript, playing with Docker, hanging out with dev communities, or honing his South Indian cooking skills.

Links

• https://github.com/haydenbr/new-years-resolutions

Slides

https://speakerdeck.com/haydenbr/docker-dependencies