Docker vs Jib

Overview

Docker

Stacks194.2K

Followers143.8K

Votes3.9K

Jib

Stacks17

Followers43

Votes2

GitHub Stars14.1K

Forks1.5K

Docker vs Jib: What are the differences?

Introduction

This article will compare Docker and Jib, two popular tools used in the world of software development. Both Docker and Jib are used to build container images, which are self-contained and executable software packages that include all the necessary dependencies to run an application. However, there are several key differences between Docker and Jib that set them apart from each other.

Build Process: One of the key differences between Docker and Jib lies in their build processes. Docker builds container images by creating a Dockerfile, which is a text document that contains a set of instructions for building an image. These instructions can include commands to install dependencies, copy files, and configure the environment. On the other hand, Jib builds container images directly from the application's source code. It does not require a Dockerfile or any other external build configuration. This makes the build process with Jib simpler and more streamlined.
Image Layering: Another important difference between Docker and Jib is their approach to image layering. Docker builds container images using a layered approach, where each instruction in the Dockerfile creates a new layer. These layers are stacked on top of each other to form the final image. This allows for incremental builds and efficient use of storage space. Jib, on the other hand, uses a different approach called layerless image building. With Jib, the container image is built as a single, monolithic layer. This eliminates the need for layer management and reduces the complexity of the image.
Container Runtime: Docker and Jib also differ in terms of the container runtime they use. Docker relies on Docker Engine, a container runtime that can run containers on various platforms such as Linux, Windows, and macOS. Docker Engine provides a full-fledged container runtime environment with features like container isolation, resource management, and networking. Jib, on the other hand, is specifically designed for containerizing Java applications. It leverages the container runtime provided by the platform on which the Java application is run, such as Kubernetes or Google Cloud Run. This makes Jib more lightweight and focused on the Java ecosystem.
Configuration: Docker and Jib differ in their configuration options for building container images. Docker provides a wide range of configuration options through the Dockerfile, allowing fine-grained control over the build process. These options include specifying the base image, installing dependencies, setting environment variables, and exposing ports. Jib, on the other hand, follows a more opinionated approach. It abstracts away many of the configuration details, making it easier to build container images. Jib automatically determines the base image and sets up the runtime environment based on the application's dependencies and requirements.
Build Lifecycle: The build lifecycle in Docker and Jib also differs in terms of how it is triggered and executed. Docker builds are typically triggered manually or through a continuous integration (CI) pipeline. The Dockerfile is processed by the Docker daemon, and the container image is built and pushed to a container registry. Jib, on the other hand, integrates directly with the build tool used for the application, such as Gradle or Maven. The container image is built and pushed to a container registry as part of the application's build lifecycle. This makes the build process with Jib more streamlined and tightly integrated with the development workflow.
Integration with Container Registry: The final key difference between Docker and Jib lies in their integration with container registries. Docker provides a built-in container registry called Docker Hub, where container images can be stored and shared. Docker also supports integration with other container registries, such as AWS Elastic Container Registry and Google Container Registry. Jib, on the other hand, integrates directly with container registries provided by cloud platforms. For example, Jib can push container images to Google Container Registry or Docker Hub without the need for additional configuration or authentication.

In summary, Docker and Jib are both powerful tools for building container images, but they have distinct differences in terms of their build processes, image layering, container runtime, configuration options, build lifecycle, and integration with container registries. The choice between Docker and Jib depends on the specific requirements of the project and the development workflow.

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Advice on Docker, Jib

Florian

IT DevOp at Agitos GmbH

Oct 22, 2019

Decided

lxd/lxc and Docker aren't congruent so this comparison needs a more detailed look; but in short I can say: the lxd-integrated administration of storage including zfs with its snapshot capabilities as well as the system container (multi-process) approach of lxc vs. the limited single-process container approach of Docker is the main reason I chose lxd over Docker.

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Detailed Comparison

Docker	Jib
The Docker Platform is the industry-leading container platform for continuous, high-velocity innovation, enabling organizations to seamlessly build and share any application — from legacy to what comes next — and securely run them anywhere	Jib builds Docker and OCI images for your Java applications and is available as plugins for Maven and Gradle.
Integrated developer tools; open, portable images; shareable, reusable apps; framework-aware builds; standardized templates; multi-environment support; remote registry management; simple setup for Docker and Kubernetes; certified Kubernetes; application templates; enterprise controls; secure software supply chain; industry-leading container runtime; image scanning; access controls; image signing; caching and mirroring; image lifecycle; policy-based image promotion	Fast - Deploy your changes fast. Jib separates your application into multiple layers, splitting dependencies from classes. Now you don’t have to wait for Docker to rebuild your entire Java application - just deploy the layers that changed.; Reproducible - Rebuilding your container image with the same contents always generates the same image. Never trigger an unnecessary update again.; Daemonless - Reduce your CLI dependencies. Build your Docker image from within Maven or Gradle and push to any registry of your choice. No more writing Dockerfiles and calling docker build/push.
Statistics
GitHub Stars -	GitHub Stars 14.1K
GitHub Forks -	GitHub Forks 1.5K
Stacks 194.2K	Stacks 17
Followers 143.8K	Followers 43
Votes 3.9K	Votes 2
Pros & Cons
Pros 823 Rapid integration and build up 692 Isolation 521 Open source 505 Testability and reproducibility 460 Lightweight Cons 8 New versions == broken features 6 Unreliable networking 6 Documentation not always in sync 4 Moves quickly 3 Not Secure	Pros 2 No docker files to maintain 0 Coder friendly with Maven and Gradle plugins 0 Native 0 Build is faster than Docker
Integrations
Java Docker Compose VirtualBox Linux Amazon EC2 Container Service Docker Swarm boot2docker Kubernetes Docker Machine Vagrant	Apache Maven Java Gradle

What are some alternatives to Docker, Jib?

Kubernetes

Kubernetes is an open source orchestration system for Docker containers. It handles scheduling onto nodes in a compute cluster and actively manages workloads to ensure that their state matches the users declared intentions.

Rancher

Rancher is an open source container management platform that includes full distributions of Kubernetes, Apache Mesos and Docker Swarm, and makes it simple to operate container clusters on any cloud or infrastructure platform.

Docker Compose

With Compose, you define a multi-container application in a single file, then spin your application up in a single command which does everything that needs to be done to get it running.

Docker Swarm

Swarm serves the standard Docker API, so any tool which already communicates with a Docker daemon can use Swarm to transparently scale to multiple hosts: Dokku, Compose, Krane, Deis, DockerUI, Shipyard, Drone, Jenkins... and, of course, the Docker client itself.

Tutum

Tutum lets developers easily manage and run lightweight, portable, self-sufficient containers from any application. AWS-like control, Heroku-like ease. The same container that a developer builds and tests on a laptop can run at scale in Tutum.

Portainer

It is a universal container management tool. It works with Kubernetes, Docker, Docker Swarm and Azure ACI. It allows you to manage containers without needing to know platform-specific code.

LXD

LXD isn't a rewrite of LXC, in fact it's building on top of LXC to provide a new, better user experience. Under the hood, LXD uses LXC through liblxc and its Go binding to create and manage the containers. It's basically an alternative to LXC's tools and distribution template system with the added features that come from being controllable over the network.

Codefresh

Automate and parallelize testing. Codefresh allows teams to spin up on-demand compositions to run unit and integration tests as part of the continuous integration process. Jenkins integration allows more complex pipelines.

LXC

LXC is a userspace interface for the Linux kernel containment features. Through a powerful API and simple tools, it lets Linux users easily create and manage system or application containers.

CAST.AI

It is an AI-driven cloud optimization platform for Kubernetes. Instantly cut your cloud bill, prevent downtime, and 10X the power of DevOps.

Related Comparisons

Docker vs Jib: What are the differences?

Introduction

Build Process: One of the key differences between Docker and Jib lies in their build processes. Docker builds container images by creating a Dockerfile, which is a text document that contains a set of instructions for building an image. These instructions can include commands to install dependencies, copy files, and configure the environment. On the other hand, Jib builds container images directly from the application's source code. It does not require a Dockerfile or any other external build configuration. This makes the build process with Jib simpler and more streamlined.
Image Layering: Another important difference between Docker and Jib is their approach to image layering. Docker builds container images using a layered approach, where each instruction in the Dockerfile creates a new layer. These layers are stacked on top of each other to form the final image. This allows for incremental builds and efficient use of storage space. Jib, on the other hand, uses a different approach called layerless image building. With Jib, the container image is built as a single, monolithic layer. This eliminates the need for layer management and reduces the complexity of the image.
Container Runtime: Docker and Jib also differ in terms of the container runtime they use. Docker relies on Docker Engine, a container runtime that can run containers on various platforms such as Linux, Windows, and macOS. Docker Engine provides a full-fledged container runtime environment with features like container isolation, resource management, and networking. Jib, on the other hand, is specifically designed for containerizing Java applications. It leverages the container runtime provided by the platform on which the Java application is run, such as Kubernetes or Google Cloud Run. This makes Jib more lightweight and focused on the Java ecosystem.
Configuration: Docker and Jib differ in their configuration options for building container images. Docker provides a wide range of configuration options through the Dockerfile, allowing fine-grained control over the build process. These options include specifying the base image, installing dependencies, setting environment variables, and exposing ports. Jib, on the other hand, follows a more opinionated approach. It abstracts away many of the configuration details, making it easier to build container images. Jib automatically determines the base image and sets up the runtime environment based on the application's dependencies and requirements.
Build Lifecycle: The build lifecycle in Docker and Jib also differs in terms of how it is triggered and executed. Docker builds are typically triggered manually or through a continuous integration (CI) pipeline. The Dockerfile is processed by the Docker daemon, and the container image is built and pushed to a container registry. Jib, on the other hand, integrates directly with the build tool used for the application, such as Gradle or Maven. The container image is built and pushed to a container registry as part of the application's build lifecycle. This makes the build process with Jib more streamlined and tightly integrated with the development workflow.
Integration with Container Registry: The final key difference between Docker and Jib lies in their integration with container registries. Docker provides a built-in container registry called Docker Hub, where container images can be stored and shared. Docker also supports integration with other container registries, such as AWS Elastic Container Registry and Google Container Registry. Jib, on the other hand, integrates directly with container registries provided by cloud platforms. For example, Jib can push container images to Google Container Registry or Docker Hub without the need for additional configuration or authentication.

Docker vs Jib

Overview

Docker vs Jib: What are the differences?