Docker Build: A Beginner’s Guide to Building Docker Images

Docker is a popular tool for packaging and deploying applications in an isolated environment, and a key part of the Docker workflow is building Docker images. We can build our own images with the help of base images and use them to create containers. We can also pull the images directly from the docker hub (https://hub.docker.com/) for our application. In this beginner’s guide, we will explain what Docker images are and how to build them.

What is a Docker Image?

A Docker image is a lightweight, stand-alone, and executable package that includes everything needed to run a piece of software, including the code, a runtime, libraries, environment variables, and config files.

Docker images are built on top of Docker’s open-source containerization technology, which allows developers to package and deploy applications in a container, making it easier to run applications consistently in different environments.

How to Build a Docker Image

To build a Docker image, you need to create a Dockerfile, which is a text file that contains a set of instructions for building the image. The Dockerfile tells Docker what to do when building the image, such as which files to include, which libraries to install, and which commands to run.

Here’s an example Dockerfile that creates a simple Python image:

In this example:

• The Dockerfile starts with a `FROM` instruction, which specifies the base image to use as the starting point for the new image. In this case, we are using the `python:3.10-slim` image, which includes a minimal version of Python 3.10.
• The `COPY` instruction copies the files from the current directory (.) into the `/app` directory in the image.
• The `WORKDIR` instruction sets the working directory to `/app`, so that any subsequent commands are run from that directory.
• The `RUN` instruction runs a command to install the Python dependencies specified in the `requirements.txt` file.
• Finally, the `CMD` instruction specifies the command to run when the container is started. In this case, it runs the `main.py` Python script.

To build the image, you can use the docker build command and specify the `Dockerfile` and a name for the image:

docker build -t my-python-app . 

This will build the image and give it the tag `my-python-app`. You can then run the image using the `docker run` command:

docker run my-python-app 

Manageing the Docker Images

Once you have built Docker images, there are a few tasks that you may need to perform to manage them. Here are some common tasks for managing Docker images:

• Listing images:

  You can use the `docker images` command to list all the images on your system. The output will include the repository, tag, and image ID for each image.

  docker images 
  
  REPOSITORY          TAG                 IMAGE ID            CREATED             SIZE
  my-python-app       latest              fc6a1ed7b9fb        3 minutes ago       967MB
  python              3.10-slim            bd4e6cdb1e80        7 days ago          142MB
  

• Removing images:

  To remove an image, you can use the `docker rmi` command followed by the image ID or repository and tag. For example, to remove the my-python-app image, you can use the following command:

  docker rmi my-python-app 
  

• Tagging images:

  You can use tags to give your images descriptive names and easily manage multiple versions. To tag an image, you can use the `docker tag` command followed by the `image ID`, the repository and tag name, and the tag value. For example, to tag the `my-python-app` image with the `1.0` tag, you can use the following command:

  docker tag fc6a1ed7b9fb my-python-app:1.0 
  

• Pushing images to a registry:

  A registry is a storage location for Docker images, and you can use a registry to share your images with others or deploy them to a production environment. To push an image to a registry, you first need to log in to the registry using the `docker login` command, and then use the `docker push` command to upload the image. For example, to push the `my-python-app` image to the Docker Hub registry, you can use the following commands:

  docker login 
  docker push my-python-app 
  

• Pulling images from a registry:

  To pull an image from a registry, you can use the `docker pull` command followed by the repository and tag name. For example, to pull the my-python-app image from the Docker Hub registry, you can use the following command:

  docker pull my-python-app 
  

By using these commands, you can easily manage your Docker images and share them with others.

Best Practices for Building Docker Images

There are a few best practices to keep in mind when building Docker images:

• Use a minimal base image: It’s generally a good idea to use a minimal base image, such as alpine or slim, to keep the size of the image as small as possible.
• Keep the Dockerfile simple: Try to keep the Dockerfile as simple as possible, with each instruction doing one thing. This will make it easier to understand and maintain.
• Use multistage builds: If your application has multiple build steps, such as building and testing, you can use multistage builds to create a single image that includes only the necessary components. This can help reduce the size of the image.
• Use caching: Docker has a built-in cache mechanism that stores the intermediate results of each instruction in the `Dockerfile
• Use a .dockerignore file: Similar to a .gitignore file, a .dockerignore file allows you to specify patterns for files and directories that should be excluded when building the image. This can help improve build performance and keep the image size smaller.
• Use environment variables: Instead of hardcoding values in the Dockerfile, you can use environment variables to make the image more flexible and easier to modify.
• Keep the image updated: It’s important to keep the base image and any installed packages up to date to ensure that you have the latest security patches and features.
• Test the image: Before deploying the image, it’s a good idea to test it to make sure it works as expected. You can use Docker Compose to set up a local development environment and run the image in a container.

Conclusion

In this guide, we have covered the basics of building Docker images and provided some best practices to follow. By following these guidelines, you can create efficient and reliable Docker images that can be easily deployed and maintained.