Software Defined Talk Episode 538: Michael Irwin on Docker, Developers, and AI
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Sep 19, 2025 Join Michael Irwin, Principal Engineer at Docker and Virginia Tech instructor, as he dives into Docker's evolution and the importance of hardened images. He shares valuable insights from his teaching journey and the challenges of CS curriculum choices. Michael explains how AI enhances containerization and simplifies Dockerfile generation. The conversation also explores the shift from traditional deployments to modern workflows with containers and the role of security in running centralized model servers. A must-listen for developers!
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From Student Dev To Teacher
- Michael Irwin moved from student developer to full-time IT and then began teaching intro CS when the department needed instructors.
- He found teaching rewarding and used it to learn from students as much as to teach them.
Teaching Containers From Scratch
- Michael developed container and Kubernetes special topics at Virginia Tech to connect students with practical deployment skills.
- Teaching containers was hard because students often hadn't deployed apps or used VMs before.
Theory Vs Practical Gap in CS
- CS curricula emphasize theory and foundations, which can leave graduates unprepared for applied engineering tasks.
- Bridging theory with practical tooling is a persistent curricular challenge for universities.