Regarding docker containers on a production environment, there are too many advantages, but surely it's up to you to see the advantages when you compare to your current architecture.

Some common are

• easy and fast deployment and updates
• easy recovery from failure (restart/recreate container)
• scalability (run as many as you need instances of an app in the same or different hosts)
• the containerization itself provides security: if someone hacks in, he'll be locked in the cointainer's scope and can't harm the host sytem
• easy service migration from one host to another

can't say enough though.

I'm editing because I understand your real question was about using docker in development state. For me, some are:

• Standarization (exact same environment for every developer, regardless the OS used)
• Easy devel environment set up for new ppl or new OS installed
• Standarization brings build process automation easier
• Tests much alike real operation environment

The main advantages are

• Platform Independent: It is independent of the OS you are developing your code.You can specify which OS to run for your application.
• Handy to use: You can create the images with different configurations and run on different ports to test different use cases.
• Easy building process
• Easy resolution of any issues