Streamlining Application Development with Docker Build

Introduction

By offering a standardized platform for creating, packing, and executing applications within lightweight, portable containers, Docker has completely changed the way software is produced, distributed, and deployed. These containers ensure consistency and dependability across many contexts by encapsulating all the components required to run a program, such as libraries, dependencies, system tools, runtime, and code.

One of the key components of Docker is Docker Build, a powerful tool used to automate the process of creating Docker images. Docker Build utilizes a Dockerfile, a simple text file containing instructions for building the image, such as specifying the base image, adding dependencies, copying files, and configuring the environment.

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Docker

Docker is an open platform for creating, delivering, and executing programs.

Docker lets you rapidly release software by separating your apps from your infrastructure. Docker is a software platform that facilitates the rapid development, testing, and deployment of programs. Docker software bundles programs into uniform units known as containers, each containing the libraries, runtime, code, and system tools required for the program to function.

You should have implemented effective load balancing by setting up a second server if your app becomes popular to prevent the application from crashing due to excessive traffic.

Docker build

Using a Dockerfile and a “context,” the Docker build program creates Docker images. The collection of files in the designated PATH or URL constitutes the context of a build. The construction process may refer to any file in the context. For instance, to reference a file in the context, your build may use COPY instructions.

The URL parameter references Three types of resources: plain text files, pre-packaged tarball contexts, and Git repositories.

The following is an example of a Dockerfile that explains how to build a unique Nginx image to serve your HTML files:

FROM nginx:latest

COPY ./hello-world.html /usr/share/nginx/html/

FROM nginx:latest

COPY ./hello-world.html /usr/share/nginx/html/

This Dockerfile instructs the docker build command to begin using the most recent Nginx image when the image is assembled and to copy your hello-world.html file into the Nginx file serving folder.

Building Dockerfile images

Use the docker build command to produce a fresh, customized image based on this sample Dockerfile:

# docker build -t my-nginx-image:latest .

1	# docker build -t my-nginx-image:latest .

Following the execution of this command, an image with the name my-nginx-image is included in the listing of Docker images that are installed on your local computer:

# docker images

1	# docker images

The Dockerfile acts as a recipe, outlining the procedures that the docker build command must perform to create a fresh, personalized Docker image.

Steps to build a to-do list using docker build

Step 1: Create a VM with Ubuntu and SSH into it

Update VM

#sudo apt-get update

1	#sudo apt-get update

step1

Let apt access a repository over HTTPS

#sudo apt-get install  apt-transport-https ca-certificates curl gnupg-agent software-properties-common -y

1	#sudo apt-get install apt-transport-https ca-certificates curl gnupg-agent software-properties-common -y

Add the GPG key for Docker.

#curl -fsSL https://download.docker.com/linux/ubuntu/gpg | sudo apt-key add -

1	#curl -fsSL https://download.docker.com/linux/ubuntu/gpg \| sudo apt-key add -

Add the repository for Docker.

#sudo add-apt-repository "deb [arch=amd64] https://download.docker.com/linux/ubuntu $(lsb_release -cs) stable"

1	#sudo add-apt-repository "deb [arch=amd64] https://download.docker.com/linux/ubuntu $(lsb_release -cs) stable"

Update the Docker’s repository

#sudo apt-get update

1	#sudo apt-get update

Install docker

#sudo apt install docker-ce -y

1	#sudo apt install docker-ce -y

step1b

Add user into the docker

#sudo usermod -aG docker $USER

1	#sudo usermod -aG docker $USER

Note: Exit and SSH again

#docker --version

1	#docker --version

Step 2: Cloning the GitHub repo

# git clone https://github.com/docker/getting-started.git

#ls

# git clone https://github.com/docker/getting-started.git

#ls

step2

#cd getting-started/app
#ls
#vi Dockerfile

#cd getting-started/app

#ls

#vi Dockerfile

step2b

Step 3: Paste the following code and save the file by giving :wq

FROM node:12-alpine

RUN apk add --no-cache python2 g++ make

WORKDIR /app

COPY . .

RUN yarn install --production

CMD ["node", "src/index.js"]

EXPOSE 3000

FROM node:12-alpine

RUN apk add --no-cache python2 g++ make

WORKDIR /app

COPY . .

RUN yarn install --production

CMD ["node", "src/index.js"]

EXPOSE 3000

step3

# docker build -t docker-build.

1	# docker build -t docker-build.

step3b

step3c

# docker images

1	# docker images

step3d

# docker run -dp 3000:3000 docker-build

1	# docker run -dp 3000:3000 docker-build

step3e

Step 4: Copy the VM public IP address and paste it into the browser with port 3000. You will be able to see your application running

#http://YOUR-IP:3000/

Example: http://34.130.192.113:3000/

step4

Step 5: You can add the item to your To-Do list

step5

step5b

Conclusion

Docker is an effective application containerization tool that offers a standardized environment across several platforms. Custom Docker images can be created with the help of the docker build command, which is a crucial part of Docker. With docker build, developers can specify instructions in a Dockerfile to build a Docker image that encapsulates their application and its dependencies. In conclusion, Docker and Docker Build streamline application development, deployment, and management by providing a platform-agnostic solution for packaging and running container applications.

Drop a query if you have any questions regarding Docker and we will get back to you quickly.

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FAQs

1. What is Docker?

ANS: – Docker is a platform allowing you to develop, ship, and run container applications. Code, runtime, libraries, dependencies, and other components required to operate an application are all included in containers, which are small, standalone executable packages. Docker provides tools and a runtime environment to create and manage these containers efficiently.

2. What is Docker Build?

ANS: – Using a Dockerfile and a command-line tool called Docker Build, Docker images may be automatically created. A text document called a Dockerfile has instructions on creating a Docker image. Docker Build reads this file and executes the instructions in sequence to create the image.

WRITTEN BY Swapnil Kumbar

Swapnil Kumbar is a Research Associate - DevOps. He knows various cloud platforms and has working experience on AWS, GCP, and azure. Enthusiast about leading technology in cloud and automation. He is also passionate about tailoring existing architecture.