I noticed that with the release of Docker Desktop version 4.49.0, support for Windows 10 and 11 (22H2) has ended. Now, it seems that in the next release, Docker Desktop will require Windows 11 (23H2). I'm curious about the situation for EU citizens who reportedly get an extra year of security updates for Windows 10. Does this mean anything for our ability to use Docker Desktop?
4 Answers
Right! Even though EU users got that free year for Windows 10, it’s still officially out of support. Docker is simply aligning with the Microsoft lifecycle, which is what they should do. If you're looking to run containers, your best bet is to upgrade to Windows 11, macOS, or Linux. Alternatively, you could set up a Linux VM on your current machine for running containers instead of using Docker Desktop.
Or you could just skip Docker Desktop entirely and find another solution if you're not upgrading!
Exactly! While EU users get an extra year of security updates for Windows 10, that doesn't extend to the software companies. Expect other companies to follow Docker's lead on this. It’s a growing trend, either now or in the near future.
The security updates for Windows don't have any bearing on why Docker decided to stop supporting older systems. Just because Microsoft offers an extended security update for EU citizens doesn't mean that third-party apps like Docker have to keep supporting it.
It’s frustrating, especially since Windows 10 still holds a sizable market share – about 40%! It feels like there should be more support given that so many people are still using it.