5 Keys to Modernizing Windows Development

Docker has emerged as a leading standard for application packaging and portability, garnering industry-wide support from Microsoft, AWS, Google, Red Hat, and others. Interest in Docker on Windows is accelerating, driven in part by Microsoft’s support of SQL Server 2017 on Linux containers.

Windocks was launched in 2016 as an independent port of Docker’s open-source project to Windows, with SQL Server database cloning enabling delivery of TB databases in seconds. These capabilities have generated widespread enterprise adoption and a growing understanding of the keys to success for successful Windows software development modernization. For full disclosure, I am a co-founder at Windocks, and the observations outlined here are from our support of these varied capabilities.

1. Docker is foundational for modernizing Windows software development and central to Microsoft’s strategy for a shared Windows and Linux development platform. Containers are also emphasized for SQL Server 2017 on Linux, and for Kubernetes orchestration, which many view as the future for enterprise computing.
2. Full stack support with SQL Server is a requirement and a challenge.   Front-end applications employ Git with Continuous Integration testing that is accomplished in seconds.  SQL Server environments, on the other hand, require hours or days to provision and rely on shared environments.   The introduction of SQL Server database cloning simplifies the secure delivery of TB class databases in seconds, with isolated containers.  Using this combination SQL Server can now be incorporated into DevOps and Continuous Integration processes, with SQL Server containers or conventional Instances. 
3. Security is a top-tier consideration and is achieved with immutable, auditable data images.   SQL database images and clones must also support enterprise encryption, encrypted credentials, and user/group role-based access.
4. Multi-cloud and on-premise support enhance vendor independence and security.  A hallmark of a modern design includes support for scaling down to run on a user’s laptop.
5. Extensibility is achieved with standard APIs combined with native Windows security and infrastructure.   SQL Server environments provisioned through the Docker API are easily integrated with Red Hat OpenShift, or Pivotal Cloud Foundry and PKS, Kubernetes, and other platforms.   Extensibility includes existing storage systems, Windows authentication, and SQL Server encryption.

The outlook for Docker-based modernization of Windows full stack development has evolved significantly in the past two years, to include SQL Server database cloning and data delivery to both containers and instances. Secure, immutable data and container images can be sourced from storage arrays and/or SQL Server backups, with TB database clones delivered in seconds. Many organizations are using this combination on AWS and Azure, complimenting AWS RDS and SQL Azure. Others are running on-premise.

Windows enterprises have never been better positioned to modernize full-stack Windows development with SQL Server containers and database cloning.