Future of Docker, concerns on usage with ROS
I've heard the news of the uncertainty on the future of Docker, will this affect those of us using it with ROS? Or are we fine since its open source?
Asked by mugetsu on 2019-10-09 17:04:40 UTC
I've heard the news of the uncertainty on the future of Docker, will this affect those of us using it with ROS? Or are we fine since its open source?
Asked by mugetsu on 2019-10-09 17:04:40 UTC
Comments
The only thing that can prevent the usage of ROS with docker is the brutal shutdown of hub.docker.com, where all official ROS image are pulled from (IF it happens).
And even if it shutdown, the image can be rebuild and pushed on another docker registry (Amazon ECS, Google CR, Azure CR, your private registry, etc.), you will just have a little bit of reconfiguration to do. Other docker tools (CLI/engine/etc.) are all on github with more than 1k forks, so it will never really dissapear.
So I think we are fine since its open source, no need to be afraid right now :) (and even later).
Asked by lmathieu on 2019-10-09 17:42:14 UTC
Can you add some more context? You've mentioned some uncertainty I'm unaware of. Has something specific happened?
Asked by stevemacenski on 2019-10-09 21:35:15 UTC
@stevemacenski: this ZDNet article details some of it.
In short: there are some (unsubstantiated) rumours floating around that Docker (ie: the company) might be acquired, due to its financial problems (no profits in 6 years according to some sources). The exit strategy for Docker (again: the company) is apparently also unclear, leaving investors unhappy. At the moment it's unclear whether this all could lead to Docker (the company) going out of business.
But it's mostly hear-say so far as far as I can tell.
As to the technology: I would not be worried necessary, especially not in the context of ROS. Yes, it's true that Docker is used by the buildfarm and quite some users, but 1) Docker CE is indeed open-source, so it will most likely continue if Docker (the company) gets in bad weather, 2) there are other containerisation technologies and 3) apart from the farm, Docker is not a critical technology in ROS.
Asked by gvdhoorn on 2019-10-10 01:05:46 UTC
If Docker Hub gets shutdown, that would certainly be a serious inconvenience. But given sufficient interest, others will most likely be created (there are already alternatives available right now).
Edit: and @mugetsu: you could always take a look at Singularity ;)
Asked by gvdhoorn on 2019-10-10 01:21:12 UTC
I was wondering when singularity was going to get brought up ;) Thanks for the article, that didn't hit my radar.
Asked by stevemacenski on 2019-10-10 12:24:30 UTC