Kubernetes vs. Docker Swarm: Define the leader for yourself

Sometimes it’s hard to decide whether you should use one service or another. The IT market has its leaders, but you have to find a leader for yourself. So, if container orchestration is on your mind now, read on to figure out why Kubernetes deployment or Docker Swarm are popular among DevOps engineers and what makes them different. 

Over the last few years, containers have become an integral part of software deployment. Used to package the application’s code and its dependencies, they ensure quick and consistent application deployments. 

Containerization makes distributed application development optimized and efficient and is essential for the microservice architecture. Each container operates autonomously, therefore such flexibility helps to prevent interdependencies and ensures that there would be no single point of failure. Once the application grows, it causes no troubles for DevOps engineers to distribute the loads and ensure high availability. 

However, another problem arises. The more containers (there can be hundreds or thousands of them) you have in your infrastructure, the more challenges you experience during deployment. It may cause a mess. To turn the chaos to perfect order, you need to manage those containers. 

For dynamic and large infrastructures, container orchestration is the only advanced solution. For this purpose, you can use such services as Kubernetes or Docker Swarm. They control and automate such tasks as application configuration, load balancing, provisioning, networking, high availability, scaling, allocation of resources, health monitoring.

Let’s talk about majors now. Kubernetes and Docker Swarm are destined to manage containers. Both offer vast capabilities, and even though they have the common goal, their ways to achieve it are rather unique.

Kubernetes is a robust container orchestration system allowing scaling and automation of application processes across the clusters of hosts. It allows easy management of operations while coupling containers into logical units. Kubernetes defines how the application should run and how it interacts with other applications. Those who are using Kubernetes agree – it is a front-runner for container orchestration, offering flexibility, environment-agnostic portability, and painless scaling. 

Docker has taken care of having its own system for container orchestration – Docker Swarm. So, it is a very convenient solution for those who are already familiar with the platform. Swarm is developed for packaging and distributing containerized applications. It allows creating a resilient and secure architecture and backward-compatibility with existing components.

Both services are effective solutions for container orchestration but they have some differences. Kubernetes supports more complex tasks and fulfills higher demands, while Docker Swarm offers a much simpler yet quick way to manage your containers. Therefore, if you choose simplicity, fast deployments, and prefer the Docker ecosystem, Swarm may be a good service for your needs. But if your application demands are more sophisticated, Kubernetes would be a better choice.