It has been quite a while since I last posted anything, mainly because 2020 has been 2020 and I haven't been in the best mindset for several months. I've had a lot of difficulty focusing on anything, and as a result, I've found my motivation has gone pretty much away.

However, last month I decided that lack of motivation be damned. I spent quite a bit of time converting a training that I had prepped to give at camps and conferences into a YouTube video series. This is a 12 lesson series that takes the viewer from a brief intro to Docker all the way up to building a custom Docksal application that combines 2 servers with a NodeJS backend and a PHP backend to simulate a production decoupled web application setup.

Here is a quick rundown of the videos and what you might expect from each:

Part 1 - Intro and Docker Basics

The first video is a starting point for someone who may or may not have much experience with Docker. I wouldn't recommend learning React without knowing some JavaScript, so I can't recommend using Docksal without having a bit of an understanding of Docker. 

Part 2 - The Gush

This second part is basically where I fanboy about Docksal and why I think it's great.  If you want to hear me ranting about the benefits of Docksal and everything it brings to the party, this is your clip!

Part 3 - Docksal Stacks

Docksal uses .yml files that define various stacks. Stacks are collections of services that make up an application. If you want to learn more, stop reading and check out the video!

Part 4 - Docksal Services

Remember way back under the last video when I used the word "services"? I remember. This video goes into what services are available to make up the stacks that are preconfigured or that you build on your own.

Part 5 -Getting Started with Docksal

 Yeah, I know... 5 videos in is a long time to wait for a "Getting Started" vid, but the wait is worth it. Get your editors ready, roll up your sleeves, and get learning!

Part 6 - Using a Boilerplate

It's not just for warming the kettle anymore! A boilerplate is a ready-to-go application that you just need to start and it works. In part 6 we're going to look at spinning up a project with one of these boilerplates.

Part 7 - Installing a Drupal Site

This is what we've been working up to. This video will show you how to use Docksal to install and run a brand new Drupal site on your local machine. It takes less time than you think!

Part 8 - Doing More with Docksal and Drupal

 Let's take it to 11. This tutorial goes over some of the ways we can further customize a local site, going so far as making the local Docksal environment actually mirror our hosting platform!

Parts 9, 10, 11 - Advanced Customization Projects

Each of these gets a little more in-depth with the customizations and they build off the previous for the most part.  I had a lot of fun coming up with Project 3.  What do you think?

Part 12 - Local Files

 Let's call this one a bit of housekeeping. It doesn't matter what you use Docksal for if you end up committing your API keys to a public repo. (Don't do that!) This one goes over how to use local Docksal files to keep your safe, secret info safe and secret.  

Conclusion

This is my first attempt at instructional videos, but hopefully not my last.  I'll be posting stuff as I can when I have time, but I'd really like to know what you all would like to see me cover. Feel free to comment on one of the videos above, on this post, on Twitter, or wherever else I might see it. Be sure to subscribe to my channel JDDoesDev on YouTube to get notified when I put new stuff up.  Until then, you're my favorite person.