We often get questions about the difference between compressing images and slimming images. Both are critical to having a happy and efficient development pipeline, but understanding the difference between them is important to have a high-performing and secure cloud-development process.
Compressing an image is a simple, automated, and basic task that can be handled at all stages of the CI/CD pipeline. The Docker executable even does this for you by default by producing a tarball of your container. Compressed images don’t run; their primary function is to move smoothly through the pipeline and reduce transfer costs and disk space.
When we talk about slimming images, we’re talking about a system of tools and techniques to optimize an image. Slimming an image results in a container that has only the code it needs to run and nothing more. This leads to better outcomes across all phases of development. This process is often manual and requires specialized knowledge.
Slimming an image also reduces the container size, but is a dynamic and use-case specific process. You may have a different slimmed image in your development environment than you do in staging or production.
Slim images are faster, more performant, and safer, as the act of slimming an image reduces the attack surface of a container. Slimmed images can also be compressed, usually with the same compression ratios of non-slimmed images.
Most developers today don’t know, and don’t have time to learn, how to dissect their Docker images, make smart optimizations, and get the right tooling to ship their containers safely and effectively.
At Slim.AI, we’re working on tools that automate the process of slimming and optimizing images. Interested in learning more? Check out the example library in our SlimToolkit (previously DockerSlim) open source project, or shoot us an email at [email protected] to request a beta invite.
We're excited to share some big news from Slim.AI. We're taking a bold new direction, focusing all our energy on software supply chain security, now under our new name root.io. To meet this opportunity head-on, we’re building a solution focused on transparency, trust, and collaboration between software producers and consumers.
When we started Slim.AI, our goal was to help developers make secure containers. But as we dug deeper with our early adopters and key customers, we realized a bigger challenge exists within software supply chain security — namely, fostering collaboration and transparency between software producers and consumers. The positive feedback and strong demand we've seen from our early customers made it crystal clear: This is where we need to focus.
This new opportunity demands a company and brand that meet the moment. To that end, we’re momentarily stepping back into stealth mode, only to emerge with a vibrant new identity, and a groundbreaking product very soon at root.io. Over the next few months, we'll be laser-focused on working with design partners and building up the product, making sure we're right on the mark with what our customers need.
Stay informed and up-to-date with our latest developments at root.io. Discover the details about the end of life for Slim services, effective March 31, 2024, by clicking here.
We're excited to share some big news from Slim.AI. We're taking a bold new direction, focusing all our energy on software supply chain security, now under our new name root.io. To meet this opportunity head-on, we’re building a solution focused on transparency, trust, and collaboration between software producers and consumers.
When we started Slim.AI, our goal was to help developers make secure containers. But as we dug deeper with our early adopters and key customers, we realized a bigger challenge exists within software supply chain security — namely, fostering collaboration and transparency between software producers and consumers. The positive feedback and strong demand we've seen from our early customers made it crystal clear: This is where we need to focus.
This new opportunity demands a company and brand that meet the moment. To that end, we’re momentarily stepping back into stealth mode, only to emerge with a vibrant new identity, and a groundbreaking product very soon at root.io. Over the next few months, we'll be laser-focused on working with design partners and building up the product, making sure we're right on the mark with what our customers need.
Stay informed and up-to-date with our latest developments at root.io. Discover the details about the end of life for Slim services, effective March 31, 2024, by clicking here.
