The concept of a Docker node and instance are introduced in Payara Server 5.192 as a tech preview. The aim of these is to provide better native integration of Payara Server with Docker.

There's a lot of noise revolving around Docker at the moment, and with the current industry focus on the cloud, there's a good reason for that.

I hope you would already know why you might want to use Payara Platform in your business, so in this blog I'm going to focus more on why you'd specifically want to use it with Docker in a "business" context. For a start, if you're unfamiliar with Docker, please refer back to our introductory blog: What is Docker and How is it Used with the Payara Platform for a primer.

What is Docker?

Docker is a platform which makes it easier to create, deploy and run your applications using containers. A container bundles all the software needed to run it. By packaging the required dependencies, it makes it easy to run it on any machine, regardless of small configuration differences.

Azure Container Instances allow you to rapidly deploy containers to the Microsoft Azure cloud without having to manage virtual machines and the corresponding infrastructure. Container Instances can be used to rapidly deploy Java EE and MicroProfile applications using Payara Micro as the underlying platform for your Cloud Native applications.

The Payara Platform is perfect for deploying Jakarta EE and MicroProfile applications on Microsoft Azure. One rapid option for deploying on Azure is to use Azure Application Services, especially Web App for Containers. The WebApp for Containers service allows you to rapidly deploy production Payara Micro applications onto Azure in seconds, allowing both rapid horizontal and vertical scaling on demand.

Webアプリケーションを開発する際における最大の挑戦の一つは、商用環境へのリリース時にアプリケーションをどのように調整すべきかを理解することです。これはJavaのエンタープライズ・アプリケーションをPayara Serverへデプロイする場合でも例外ではありません。

Back in 2016, we wrote about the importance of automation in taking applications from development to production with Payara Server. Since then, there have been a lot of changes both in Payara Server and Payara Micro and the wider tech landscape.

We work hard to make Payara Server robust, reliable, and innovative so that it's perfect for production deployments. But we never forget about the users and developers. For them, we target flexibility and ease of use in every new feature we add and every tool in the ecosystem we maintain. Our Payara Docker images are an example of it and we're happy about the positive feedback from the user community we receive, as well as the constructive suggestions that help us improve user experience in the future.

The Payara Micro 173 release had a few changes which will make the lives of Docker users easier. This blog will cover the changes which affect Payara Micro in Docker,  demonstrating the following:

• Using the new Payara Micro 5 Docker image, which provides Java EE 8 features.

• Deploying applications without the targetted database being present.

• Adding library JARs from the command line.

This spring's silver lining, Payara Server 4.1.2.172, a highly cloud-focused release, is now available!

Focusing on enhancing Payara Server and Payara Micro's ease-of-use in cloud environments, we've brought in new features to make working with Docker more seamless and secure, native support for SaaS monitoring solutions and a huge increase in messaging capabilities for Payara Micro! Inside this quarter's release you will find 54 fewer bugs, a host of ecosystem and cloud improvements, and an update to match GlassFish 4.1.2. Carry on reading for a summary of this quarter's changes, or check out the full release notes for a complete list of changes.