title: "Getting Started, Part 1: Orientation and Setup"

{% include content/docker_elevator_pitch.md %}

This tutorial will create a simple application that runs in a cluster, so you

get a sense of how to build distributed applications with the Docker platform.

We will achieve this in the following steps:

1. Get set up and oriented, on this page.

2. [Create a "Hello World" application that identifies its environment](part2.md)

3. [Hook up a visitor counter](part3.md)

4. [Scale our app as if it were very high traffic, by setting up a cluster in

production](part4.md)

The application itself is very simple so that you are not too distracted by

what the code is doing. After all, the value of Docker is in how it can build,

ship, and run applications; it's totally agnostic as to what your application

actually does.

Before we get started, make sure your system has the latest version of Docker

installed.

[Install Docker](/engine/installation/index.md){: class="button darkblue-btn"}

[Docker Toolbox](../toolbox/index.md) so you get Docker Compose.

If you understand that container images package application code and their

dependencies all together in a portable deliverable, and your environment has

Docker installed, let's move on!

[On to "Getting Started, Part 2: Creating and Building Your App" >>](part2.md){: class="button darkblue-btn"}