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keshav Sandhu
keshav Sandhu

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Docker Cheat-sheet for beginners 🐳

#webdev #docker #beginners #programming

🔧 Common Docker Commands

  • Start Docker: 
  systemctl start docker  # Linux
  open -a Docker  # macOS
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  • Check Docker Version: 
  docker --version
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📦 Working with Containers

  • List Running Containers: 
  docker ps
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  • List All Containers (Running + Stopped): 
  docker ps -a
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  • Run a Container (starts and attaches): 
  docker run <image_name>
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  • Run in Detached Mode: 
  docker run -d <image_name>
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  • Run with Port Mapping: 
  docker run -p <host_port>:<container_port> <image_name>
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  • Stop a Running Container: 
  docker stop <container_id>
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  • Start a Stopped Container: 
  docker start <container_id>
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  • Remove a Stopped Container: 
  docker rm <container_id>
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📜 Images

  • List Docker Images: 
  docker images
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  • Pull an Image from Docker Hub: 
  docker pull <image_name>
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  • Build an Image from Dockerfile: 
  docker build -t <image_name> .
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  • Tag an Image: 
  docker tag <image_id> <new_image_name>:<tag>
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  • Remove an Image: 
  docker rmi <image_id>
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🔄 Container Management

  • View Logs of a Container: 
  docker logs <container_id>
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  • Access a Running Container (Interactive Shell): 
  docker exec -it <container_id> /bin/bash
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  • Copy Files from Container to Host: 
  docker cp <container_id>:<path_inside_container> <host_path>
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🏗 Docker Networks

  • List Networks: 
  docker network ls
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  • Create a Network: 
  docker network create <network_name>
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  • Connect a Running Container to a Network: 
  docker network connect <network_name> <container_id>
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🐳 Docker Compose

  • Start Services in Detached Mode: 
  docker-compose up -d
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  • Stop Services: 
  docker-compose down
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  • Build and Start Containers: 
  docker-compose up --build
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📊 Inspecting and Monitoring

  • Inspect Container Details: 
  docker inspect <container_id>
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  • Display Resource Usage (CPU, Memory): 
  docker stats
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🛠 Volumes

  • List Volumes: 
  docker volume ls
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  • Create a Volume: 
  docker volume create <volume_name>
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  • Mount a Volume (during docker run): 
  docker run -v <volume_name>:<path_inside_container> <image_name>
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💡 Pro Tip: Use docker system prune to remove unused containers, networks, and images.

Feel free to save or bookmark this cheat sheet for quick reference!

Docker #CheatSheet #Containers #DevOps

Top comments (20)

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andreitelteu profile image
Andrei Telteu •

You can also make a helper script:
New file at the root folder called dc without extension.
Content example. Modify for your needs.

#!/bin/bash
trap "exit" 0
DC="docker compose" # add  `-f docker/compose.yml` if it's in another folder
if [ $# -eq 0 ]; then
    $DC ps -a
elif [ $1 == "up" ]; then
    $DC up -d
elif [ $1 == "nr" ]; then
    if [ $# -gt 1 ]; then
        $DC exec node su node -c "${*:2}"
    else
        $DC exec node su node
    fi
elif [ $1 == "npm" ]; then
    $DC exec node su node -c "npm ${*:2}"
elif [ $1 == "install" ]; then
    $DC exec node su node -c 'npm install'
elif [ $1 == "recreate" ]; then
    $DC up -d --force-recreate ${*:2}
elif [ $1 == "build" ]; then
    $DC up -d --force-recreate --build ${*:2}
else
    $DC $*
fi
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Give execute permission with chmod +x ./dc
And now you can run:

  • ./dc to show all containers with status
  • ./dc up to start in detached mode
  • ./dc install to run npm install in the node container as user node
  • ./dc npm install package-name-here to run any npm command inside node container. Works with ./dc npm run start too
  • ./dc nr interactive exec inside node container
  • ./dc nr node index.js run any command inside node container
  • ./dc recreate applies any modifications to docker-compose.yml
  • ./dc recreate node applies modifications to compose, only for node container
  • ./dc build if you have a custom dockerfile, does run dc up with a fresh build.
  • ./dc logs -n 10 -f node - any other docker-compose command works as expected.
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abdullah-dev0 profile image
Abdullah •

Adding one more

docker system prune

This will remove:
- all stopped containers
- all networks not used by at least one container
- all dangling images
- unused build cache

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jangelodev profile image
João Angelo •

Hi keshav Sandhu,
Top, very nice and helpful !
Thanks for sharing.

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orashus profile image
Rash Edmund Jr •

Thanks man

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awinooliyo profile image
Erick Otieno Awino •

This is incredible.

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prathmeshjagtap profile image
Prathmesh Jagtap •

The most used commands in docker.
Thank for Writing.

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vishalvivekm profile image
Vivek Vishal •

Thank you @keshav___dev

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aerabi profile image
Mohammad-Ali A'RÂBI •

Great read. I would just suggest you to use Compose v2, which is without a hyphen: docker compose up.

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tauksun profile image
tauksun •

Recover shrinking disk space on every build :

  1. sudo docker image prune -a ( removes un-used images )
  2. sudo docker buildx prune ( removes image cache, this holds the most space )
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keshav___dev profile image
keshav Sandhu •

dev.to/keshav___dev/prisma-recap-e...

Prisma cheat sheet

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