Introduction to MDSplus using Docker

Abstract

• Docker is a tool used in modern software engineering. • Docker is an ecosystem of tools that allow for distributing and running software in isolated contexts. • Docker Compose can be used to document and deploy infrastructure in a file. • MDSplus can be used with Docker to test and deploy MDSip services. • MDSplus can be used with Docker to test old/new versions of MDSplus tools. • Docker has limitations that impact its use with MDSplus. With increased use of MDSplus comes an influx of new users. With them comes a need for more and better ways to learn the suite of tools that is MDSplus. The MDSplus team continually evaluates new technologies to improve our software and user experience. To this end, we investigated Docker to determine if and how it could help new users understand MDSplus, make MDSplus easier to install, and allow us to easily test old/new versions. To achieve this, a set of Docker images and instructions have been developed. This paper will provide an overview of MDSplus, and detail the methods to create and use the Docker images. Additionally, we will explore the limitations of such an approach, and the recommended applications. The project where these Docker Images were built, along with the Demo is here: https://github.com/WhoBrokeTheBuild/DockerizedMDSplus https://hub.docker.com/r/whobrokethebuild/mdsplus The now official Docker Images are available here: https://github.com/MDSplus/Docker https://hub.docker.com/r/mdsplus/mdsplus