Highlights
- Satisfied developers: Developers using Release as a Docker Extension extension have better experiences, reporting a six-fold productivity increase with Release and Docker Since announcing their Docker integration in October 2023, Release has experienced a surge in new account creations, with hundreds of new accounts registered monthly.
- 30%+ conversion rate: Over 30% of Docker Desktop users who installed the Release Share extension converted to Release accounts, showcasing the extension’s value and driving substantial business growth for Release.com
- Satisfied developers: Developers using Release as a Docker Extension extension have better experiences, reporting a six-fold productivity increase with Release and Docker
Introduction
Release.com partnership with Docker increases customer sign-ups and developer satisfaction
As infrastructure continues to expand, software development is under pressure to accomplish more, faster. This need has been growing even before the advent of application virtualization and containers, which have since become essential tools for reducing the overhead and technical debt prevalent among enterprises. Release.com, a cutting-edge innovator, provides environments-as-a-service solutions. They have embraced Docker technology to deliver their advanced software-as-a-service (SaaS) solution.
Release’s company mission is clear: help developers release their ideas to the world faster. The company aims to streamline the complexities associated with cloud-native development and enable teams to focus on what they do best—build outstanding software. Release achieves this by offering ephemeral environments that significantly reduce the friction in deploying, testing, and managing applications across diverse cloud infrastructures.
Recently, Release turned to Docker to deliver their SaaS solution directly to Docker Desktop users.
Challenges
Engaging with container developers to grow a SaaS business
Release saw the critical need for tools that facilitate seamless collaboration and sharing of Dockerized applications. So, the team at Release aimed to solve this problem among these developers who would value the same levels of automation and ease.
Before Release, sharing Dockerized applications running in cloud environments could have been more convenient. The process required complex setups or configurations that could stymie the pace of development and collaboration. The absence of a straightforward mechanism for sharing added layers of complexity, slowing down the feedback loop and impacting the overall efficiency of the development cycle.
The team at Release knew that if they solved this problem for the Docker user community, they would solve a pressing need for developers and, in turn, experience their own success.
Solution
Integrations via Docker Extensions for personalized developer experiences
Enter Release Share, a Docker Desktop extension built by Release to simplify sharing Docker containers. Release Share is an elegant and practical solution, embodying the principles of speed, flexibility, and ease of use that are built into the Docker design.
The Release team understands how Docker Extensions expand Docker’s capabilities and establish new functionalities, seamlessly integrating third-party tools. Custom integrations are made simple, whether you’re using solutions already on Docker Hub or building new ones. Extensions let developers choose their ideal development environment, and offer the best choice for developers and software providers who want to customize and add functionality.
As an active participant in the Docker ecosystem, Release is helping extend Docker’s capabilities by using Docker Extensions, making it easier for enterprise users to share their containers publicly with a single click. Release Share also allows developers to change the link to the containers to whatever makes the most sense. Additionally, they can list running containers that have exposed ports to other team members. Sharing these containers is as easy as sending the link that allows others to see the application in their browser.
With integration into Docker, Release could empower developers to express their creativity and experiment, free from the usual worries about time, money, and the fear of breaking things. They could also share their work with others through an easily accessible URL.
Key benefits
Sign-up surge and community leadership
Release integration via Docker Extensions provided vital benefits for both developers, consequently driving Release’s business. Release quickly saw the key benefits.
Release’s sign-ups surged
Release saw a substantial increase in new account signups, with hundreds of new accounts created each month since the announcement at DockerCon in October of 2023.
Increased community relevance
By becoming a trusted solution developer in the Docker community, Release increased its value to its target users. This enhanced their ability to develop, deploy, and test their environments.
Improved mindshare through community leadership
By providing value to the community, Release grew. Because Release was integrated into everyday Docker workflows, developers instantly saw the solution's value as part of their core activities.
Efficient extension of Docker's functionality
By leveraging Release's expertise in Docker, the team integrated their tool into Docker Desktop as an Extension. This approach eliminated the need to create a new application from scratch, allowing Release to concentrate on developing valuable features and functionality for users.
Results
The integration of Release Share into the Docker ecosystem underscores the impact of participation in Docker integration on user acquisition and platform engagement, showcasing the significant benefits of Docker extensions. This integration benefitted both Release and the community of developers they empower.
Accelerated development and deployment cycles
Customer organizations have reported a noticeable acceleration in their development and deployment cycles, with Release users seeing a six-fold increase in productivity or reducing time for deployment from days to hours. The efficiency gain is attributed to eliminating bottlenecks associated with shared resources and the reduced time spent on environment setup. This capability enables developers to iterate and deploy at unprecedented speeds.
Release’s Docker Extension simplifies container sharing and task automation
Just as Docker has provided autonomy to developers, allowing them to manage their environments without external dependencies, it has led to a marked improvement in job satisfaction. Release helps automate tasks and fosters collaboration among teams by allowing them to easily share containers.
Docker drives more revenue for Release
Reflecting on the strategy’s success, Release CMO Matt Carter highlighted, “30%+ of Docker Desktop users who installed the Release Share extension converted to a Release Account to get additional value from the extension.” Creating a journey like this allowed Release to turn their Docker Desktop extension into an efficient top-of-funnel channel to accelerate their business.