Use Docker to create a local WordPress development environment

Screenshot displaying terminal output from docker compose and other docker commands.

A Docker container is a piece of software that provides a particular application or service in a lightweight… container. Containers are often compared to virtual machines, and they are both heavily used in cloud deployments. But they are different.

  • Virtual machines run on the host system’s hypervisor, which runs on the host machine’s operating system. A virtual machine contains a complete operating system and a kernel.
  • Containers contain only enough code to run that application or service. It leverages the operating system of the host system for everything else it needs. In the case of Docker, containers run on Docker Engine (also known as the Docker daemon), a platform that sits on top of the host operating system and also coordinates communications for each individual container.
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Introduction to Installing Let’s Encrypt Certificates for WordPress on Amazon Web Services (AWS)

Screenshot illustrating the process to install a TLS certificate from Let's Encrypt.

As I said in my previous tutorial, I don’t have a lot of technical writing from my day job that I can share with the public and prospective employers. To mitigate this, I’ve been creating some beginner-level articles on managing WordPress on Amazon Web Services for this portfolio site. So if you have completed my Introduction to Hosting WordPress on Amazon Web Services (AWS) tutorials, here’s one about HTTPS, SSL/TLS certificates, and how you can install them on your WordPress instance running on an EC2 instance – for free!

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Introduction to Hosting WordPress on Amazon Web Services (AWS)

Screenshot: Creating an AWS EC2 instance to host a WordPress site using Bitnami.

I’ve been working for several years as a technical writer, but since almost all of my work is covered by non-disclosure agreements, I don’t have a lot to show for it. So I decided to create my own tech-writing samples on my own time. I took my WordPress experience, combined it with what I taught myself about hosting WordPress sites on Amazon Web Services (AWS), and created a six-part introduction for people who are new to running their own services in the cloud.

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More Aerial Video: Steam Machine

Recently saw this video on Vimeo from the people at Steam Machine Aerial showcasing some great work using drones to shoot video, almost all in Philadelphia. I’m not going to waste your time or mine trying to describe it – just watch, preferably in full screen.

East London from the Air by Honey Worth

Lots of things are happening in technology and video, but what people have started doing with their GoPro cameras mounted on their own “drones” is very exciting. Recently I came across this very impressive video out of London made by “Honey Worth” (@honeyworth). I have a great love for London, including the places and neighborhoods that are captured beautifully in this very well-made video.