Docker announced v3.0 of its Enterprise platform at its San Francisco shindig, with a heavy focus on Kubernetes.

The update comes barely a year after 2.0 saw the light of day, which in traditional software terms is no time at all, but in the world of containers and DevOps is an aeon.

Docker claimed the new version, “brings a new level of simplicity and security when deploying and scaling container and Kubernetes-based applications.”

This comes in the shape of Docker Kubernetes Service, which Docker claims will “simplify the scaling and deployment of applications” and which “integrates Kubernetes from the developer desktop to production server, eliminating ‘works on my machine’ friction between development and operations.”

The feature is compatible with Docker Compose, Kubernetes YAML and Helm charts, which Docker said “provides an automated and repeatable way to install, configure, manage and scale Kubernetes-based applications across hybrid and multi-cloud”.

Almost as an afterthought, the company added in its release on Docker Enterprise 3.0, “Customers will also have the option to use Docker Swarm Services (DSS) as part of the platform’s orchestration services.”

Back in December, at DockerCon Europe, Docker CEO Steve Singh said the company remained committed to Swarm, its inhouse orchestration platform, and would continue to invest in it.

Yesterday, though, the only other reference to Swarm came in the shape of the addition of Group Managed Service Accounts support.

Talking of desktops, another new Enterprise feature is Docker Desktop Enterprise, which Docker said extends the Docker Enterprise platform to developers’ desktops. According to a blog posting by David Hamdani, amongst other things, this means “no Docker CLI commands are required to get started”.

Also new is Docker Applications, which Docker said will allow developers to “define multi-container applications in a single package” which can be deployed to any infrastructure. This is based on the CNAB standard – for Cloud Native Application Bundles – announced by Docker and Microsoft last December. This includes Docker Assemble, which promises to allow devs to “Easily generate Dockerfiles and the associated files for common application frameworks without expert Docker knowledge.”

Not needing expert knowledge is clearly a theme for the vendor. It also promised Docker Enterprise-as-a-service, on prem or in the cloud. This will initially be delivered with veteran service company, CapGemini. This follows previous tie-ups with Mulesoft, and Microsoft, aimed at helping companies with ageing infrastructure and/or applications to shed their fear about embracing containerisation – essentially by allowing them to keep their old apps still running for just a little bit longer.