Perhaps being influenced by the cliché that you’re just not cool if you don’t have your own app store, Docker Inc. yesterday launched the Docker Store in private beta, a new marketplace to showcase only the most trusted and validated Docker software.

Docker says the concept is to deliver a self-service portal for ecosystem partners to distribute their software via Docker images, which make it easier for users to deploy those apps.

The Docker Store is said to be specifically geared for enterprises, unlike the Docker container registry, which has a wider scope. According to the company, the store will offer “compliant, commercially supported software from trusted and verified publishers, that is packaged as Docker images,” with both free and paid offerings available. Docker will make money out of it by taking a small cut of the profits every time a paid app installed from the store. To ensure companies only get the best of the best, Docker says its employing the highest vetting standards, focused on ensuring each container image’s quality. In addition, Docker will verify all content and provide licensing information to help companies with compliance concerns.

“The use and creation of dockerized content has grown exponentially in the last couple of years,” Docker officials said in a statement. “This demand on content and the expanded use of Docker within the enterprise naturally led to the need for more content, entitlement, visibility into security profiles and compliance.”

Docker says the number of containerized apps has grown to 460,000 in the last couple of years, while more than four billion images have already been pulled from the container registry and Docker Hub.

Docker Store is open now in private beta, with offerings from companies like Chef Inc., New Relic Inc., Citrix Systems Inc., Splunk Inc. and Nginx Inc. currently being showcased.

Image credit: Docker Inc.