Docker API, remote API, Client API

Question

I would like to know when to use and the difference between Docker API, Docker remote API, Client API and Compose API. TIA.

Answer 1

There is only Docker Engine API, which allows you to manage Docker calling it.

Docker API = Docker Engine API

Docker remote API = I think this means to configure Docker CLI to connect to a remote API to manage container on other hosts.

Client API = Docker CLI. A CLI to use Docker Engine API.

Compose API = This doesn't exist, Compose is only a tool to use Docker Engine API.

For further information, check Docker Engine API docs: https://docs.docker.com/engine/api/

Answer 2

Basically all the categories that you are referring to are Docker Engine APIs

As per the Docker Docs:

The Engine API is the API served by Docker Engine. It allows you to control every aspect of Docker from within your own applications, build tools to manage and monitor applications running on Docker, and even use it to build apps on Docker itself.

It is the API the Docker client uses to communicate with the Engine, so everything the Docker client can do can be done with the API. For example:

Running and managing containers Managing Swarm nodes and services Reading logs and metrics Creating and managing Swarms Pulling and managing images Managing networks and volumes

These APIs are used to control Docker on the remote servers.

Docker Compose is a tool for defining and running multi-container Docker applications.

Answer 3

These APIs are used to control Docker on the remote servers.

Docker Compose is a tool for defining and running multi-container Docker applications.

Thanks, I was trying to understand the difference between the Docker APIs while working on this Scalable Docker Deployment in the Bluemix platform.