Understanding Docker Files

A Dockerfile is a text document containing a series of commands for the Docker platform. It outlines how to build a Docker image, which includes the necessary instructions for installing assemblies and their dependencies. The Docker container is where the application code executes.

Essential Docker Commands

A wide array of Docker commands exists, but this guide will focus on the most crucial ones that are beneficial for daily use.

1. Check Docker Version: Use docker --version to view the installed Docker version.
2. List Containers: Execute docker ps to see the active containers.
3. Build an Image: Run docker build to create a Docker image from a Dockerfile.
4. Container Management: Use docker container to manage your containers. Common sub-commands include:
   • docker container attach: Connect local input, output, and error streams to a running container.
   • docker container ps: Retrieve container details such as ID, image, command, creation time, status, and ports.
   • docker container commit: Generate a new image based on changes in a container.
   • docker container cp: Transfer files or directories between a container and the local filesystem.
   • docker container create: Generate a new container from a Docker image.
   • docker container exec: Execute commands within a running container.
   • docker container export: Archive a container's filesystem as a tar file.
   • docker container inspect: Show detailed information about one or multiple containers.
   • docker container kill <id>: Terminate one or more active containers.
   • docker container logs <id>: Access the logs of a specific container.
   • docker container ls <id>: List containers based on the specified criteria.
   • docker container rm <id>: Delete one or more containers.
   • docker container run <id>: Start a command in a new container, with options to set environment variables, name the container, mount volumes, and more.
   • docker container start <id>: Restart one or more stopped containers.
   • docker container stats <id>: Get real-time resource usage statistics for containers.
   • docker container stop <id>: Halt one or more running containers.
   • docker container top <id>: View the processes running in a container.

Understanding Volumes: Use docker volume to manage Docker volumes. Commands include docker volume create to create a volume, docker volume inspect to show detailed information, docker volume ls to list all volumes, and docker volume rm to delete a volume.

Summary of Docker Commands

While there are numerous other Docker commands related to networking, nodes, plugins, secrets, services, stacks, and swarms, they are not as frequently used in everyday scenarios. This guide has focused on the most essential commands that every developer should become familiar with for effective Docker usage.

The first video, "The Essential Docker Commands You Need to Know," provides a comprehensive overview of the fundamental commands that every Docker user should master.

The second video, "15 MUST-KNOW Docker Commands for Beginners," highlights critical commands that are particularly useful for those just starting with Docker.