The Ultimate Docker Cheat Sheet. docker_cheatsheet. A cheatsheet is a concise summary of important information that is meant to be used as a quick reference.

Docker has become an essential tool for developers, especially when managing applications across different environments. Here’s a quick cheat-sheet to get started with Docker, explained in first-person and active voice. I’ll break down what each command does so that you’re always in control. Let’s dive right in!

Basic Docker Commands

Start Docker

• Linux: systemctl start docker
• macOS: open -a Docker
• Why: This command starts the Docker service on your machine, so you can run containers and images.

Check Docker Version
docker --version

• Why: Displays the current Docker version installed on your machine. Handy for compatibility checks.

Working with Containers

List Running Containers
docker ps

• Why: Shows a list of all containers that are currently running on your system.

List All Containers (Running + Stopped)
docker ps -a

• Why: Lists both active and inactive (stopped) containers.

Run a Container
docker run <image_name>

• Why: Downloads the image (if not available locally) and starts the container interactively.

Run in Detached Mode
docker run -d <image_name>

• Why: Starts a container in the background (detached), freeing up your terminal for other commands.

Run with Port Mapping
docker run -p <host_port>:<container_port> <image_name>

• Why: Maps the container’s port to your machine’s port so that you can access it through a browser or another client.

Stop a Running Container
docker stop <container_id>

• Why: Gracefully stops a running container.

Start a Stopped Container
docker start <container_id>

• Why: Restarts a previously stopped container without running a new one.

Remove a Stopped Container
docker rm <container_id>

• Why: Deletes the stopped container to free up space.

Managing Docker Images

List Docker Images
docker images

• Why: Displays all downloaded images on your system.

Pull an Image from Docker Hub
docker pull <image_name>

• Why: Downloads an image from Docker Hub for local use.

Build an Image from a Dockerfile
docker build -t <image_name> .

• Why: Creates a Docker image from a Dockerfile, allowing you to package your application with all dependencies.

Tag an Image
docker tag <image_id> <new_image_name>:<tag>

• Why: Tags an image with a specific name and version (tag), useful for version control.

Remove an Image
docker rmi <image_id>

• Why: Deletes a Docker image to free up disk space.

Container Management

View Logs of a Container
docker logs <container_id>

• Why: Displays the logs of a running container to troubleshoot issues.

Access a Running Container (Interactive Shell)
docker exec -it <container_id> /bin/bash

• Why: Opens an interactive shell inside a running container, allowing you to interact directly.

Copy Files from Container to Host
docker cp <container_id>:<path_inside_container> <host_path>

• Why: Copies files from a container to your host machine.

Networking with Docker

List Networks
docker network ls

• Why: Lists all available Docker networks.

Create a Network
docker network create <network_name>

• Why: Creates a custom network for containers to connect to.

Connect a Running Container to a Network
docker network connect <network_name> <container_id>

• Why: Connects an existing running container to a specified network.

Docker Compose

Start Services in Detached Mode
docker-compose up -d

• Why: Starts services defined in your docker-compose.yml file in the background.

Stop Services
docker-compose down

• Why: Stops and removes all services and containers created by Docker Compose.

Build and Start Containers
docker-compose up --build

• Why: Builds the images and starts the containers defined in the docker-compose.yml.

Inspecting and Monitoring

Inspect Container Details
docker inspect <container_id>

• Why: Displays detailed information about a container’s configuration and status.

Display Resource Usage (CPU, Memory)
docker stats

• Why: Shows real-time CPU, memory, and network usage of running containers.

Working with Volumes

List Volumes
docker volume ls

• Why: Lists all Docker volumes available on your system.

Create a Volume
docker volume create <volume_name>

• Why: Creates a new volume to store persistent data.

Mount a Volume
docker run -v <volume_name>:<path_inside_container> <image_name>

• Why: Mounts a volume to your container, ensuring data persists even after the container is stopped or removed.

That’s it! You now have a solid reference to start managing your Docker environment like a pro. Remember, practice makes perfect, so don’t hesitate to explore and experiment with these commands. Happy Dockering!

A Note From the Author

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