Docker vs Gerrit Code Review: What are the differences?

# Introduction

Docker and Gerrit Code Review are two widely used tools in software development. They serve different purposes and offer unique features that cater to specific needs within the development workflow.

1. **Deployment Process**: Docker is primarily used for containerization, allowing developers to package their applications and dependencies into a single unit that can run consistently across different environments. On the other hand, Gerrit Code Review focuses on code collaboration and review, providing a platform for developers to share their code, receive feedback, and ensure code quality before merging it into the main repository.

2. **Version Control Integration**: Docker does not provide built-in version control capabilities, as its main function is containerization. On the contrary, Gerrit Code Review integrates tightly with version control systems like Git, enabling developers to manage and review code changes efficiently within the context of the repository.

3. **Workflow Automation**: Docker emphasizes automation in the deployment process, allowing developers to define container configurations using Dockerfiles and automate the build and deployment process with tools like Docker Compose. In contrast, Gerrit Code Review focuses on automating code review workflows, providing features like code review queues, automated testing, and integration with CI/CD pipelines to maintain code quality and streamline the review process.

4. **Collaboration Features**: While Docker offers capabilities for container orchestration and management, it lacks the detailed collaboration features found in Gerrit Code Review. Gerrit provides features like inline code comments, review workflows, and access controls to facilitate effective collaboration among developers during the code review process.

5. **Code Quality Assurance**: Docker ensures container consistency and deployment reliability but does not directly address code quality assurance. On the other hand, Gerrit Code Review places a strong emphasis on code quality by enabling comprehensive code review processes, code quality checks, and integration with code analysis tools to enforce coding standards and best practices.

6. **Focus Areas**: Docker primarily focuses on containerization and deployment aspects of software development, catering to DevOps and infrastructure automation needs. In contrast, Gerrit Code Review is tailored towards facilitating code collaboration, code review, and code quality assurance within development teams, providing a specialized platform for effective code management and review processes.

In Summary, Docker and Gerrit Code Review offer distinct functionalities, with Docker focusing on containerization and deployment automation, while Gerrit Code Review specializes in code collaboration, review workflows, and code quality assurance within development teams.