Hey everyone! I'm diving into my self-hosting journey and looking to improve my DevOps skills by setting up a homelab. I'm trying to decide between using Kubernetes or Docker for my setup. Right now, I have a single mini-PC running Ubuntu Server with Docker or Podman, and I'm also using Minikube. At the moment, I'm not using network drives, so everything will be on the local disk. I want something easy to set up since I'm not too concerned about fault tolerance and disaster recovery. I've heard Kubernetes is more complex but offers interesting features, although I've run into issues with Helm charts being outdated. On the other hand, Docker with a management tool like Portainer seems easier but might not be as good for skill development. What do you all think? Any advice or insights would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!
5 Answers
Using a lightweight version of Kubernetes could be beneficial, especially as you start scaling. But if you’re just experimenting, Docker with Docker Compose might make your life easier right now.
Docker is perfect if you're looking for ease of use, while Kubernetes is better for learning purposes. If you want to understand clusters and high availability, go for K8s, but for straightforward setups, Docker is sufficient.
Honestly, a single-node Kubernetes setup can feel pointless. I'd focus on learning Docker first, then move to something like K3s if you plan to scale later on.
If you're running everything on a single machine, I recommend sticking with Docker. Kubernetes adds unnecessary complexity when you're just trying to manage a few containers.
It really depends on your goals. If you want hands-on learning with container orchestration, Kubernetes is great, but for simple projects, Docker is more practical. I find Docker easier for a basic home setup.
That's a good point! I want to learn, but I also need my services to run smoothly without too much hassle.
Great suggestion! It seems like a good way to bridge the gap before diving deeper into Kubernetes.