Why I Use Docker for Every Side Project

🎯 The Decision

I used to skip Docker for small projects. "It's just a weekend thing," I'd think. "Why add complexity?"

I was wrong. Here's why I containerize everything now, even tiny side projects.

✅ Benefits I Actually Get

1. Consistency Across Machines

My laptop, my desktop, a server—they all run the same environment. No "works on my machine" issues. The Dockerfile is the source of truth.

2. Easy Onboarding

Want to run my project? docker-compose up. That's it. No "install Node 18.3, PostgreSQL 14, Redis 6.2" instructions. It just works.

4. Clean Uninstalls

Done with a project? docker-compose down -v. Everything's gone. No leftover dependencies polluting my system.

5. Production-Ready from Day One

When I'm ready to deploy, the container is already built. No last-minute "how do I package this?" panic.

⚠️ The "Overkill" Argument

People say Docker adds overhead. It does—but for side projects, that overhead is negligible. The benefits outweigh the cost.

For truly tiny scripts (one file, no dependencies), sure, skip it. But if you have dependencies, a database, or multiple services? Docker pays for itself.

🛠️ My Workflow

I start every project with a docker-compose.yml:

• App service (Node/Python/etc.)
• Database (PostgreSQL or MySQL)
• Redis if I need caching
• Nginx if I need a reverse proxy

Five minutes to set up, saves hours later.

💭 My Take

Docker isn't just for big teams or production. It's a tool that makes my life easier, even for projects that might never see the light of day.

Start containerized. You'll thank yourself later.