Building images in CI pipeline in Docker - Mini Project: Build & Apply

Building images in CI pipeline

📖 Scenario: You work in a team that uses Docker containers to package applications. Your team wants to automate building Docker images whenever new code is pushed. This helps deliver updates faster and with fewer errors.

🎯 Goal: Build a simple Docker image using a Dockerfile and automate the build process in a CI pipeline script.

📋 What You'll Learn

Create a Dockerfile with a base image and a simple command

Add a variable for the image tag

Write a command to build the Docker image using the tag variable

Print the Docker build command output

💡 Why This Matters

🌍 Real World

Automating Docker image builds in CI pipelines helps teams deliver software updates quickly and reliably.

💼 Career

Knowing how to build Docker images and automate builds is a key skill for DevOps engineers and developers working with containers.

1

Create a Dockerfile

Create a file named Dockerfile with these exact contents:
FROM alpine:3.18
CMD ["echo", "Hello from Docker image"]

Docker

# Create a Dockerfile with the specified content

Hint

The Dockerfile must start with FROM alpine:3.18 and have a CMD that echoes the exact text.

2

Add an image tag variable

In a shell script file named build.sh, create a variable called IMAGE_TAG and set it to myapp:latest.

Docker

# Create IMAGE_TAG variable
# Your code here

Hint

Use IMAGE_TAG=myapp:latest exactly in your script.

3

Write Docker build command

In the build.sh script, add a command to build the Docker image using the IMAGE_TAG variable and the current directory as context. Use docker build -t $IMAGE_TAG ..

Docker

IMAGE_TAG=myapp:latest

# Add docker build command
# Your code here

Hint

Use the exact command docker build -t $IMAGE_TAG . to build the image.

4

Print build command output

Add a command to the build.sh script to print the message Docker image built with tag: $IMAGE_TAG after the build command.

Docker

IMAGE_TAG=myapp:latest

docker build -t $IMAGE_TAG .

# Print build success message
# Your code here

Hint

Use echo "Docker image built with tag: $IMAGE_TAG" to print the message.

Practice

1. What is the main purpose of building Docker images in a CI pipeline?

easy

A. To automate packaging the app for consistent deployment

B. To manually upload files to the server

C. To write application code faster

D. To monitor server health

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand CI pipeline role

   CI pipelines automate tasks like testing and packaging to ensure consistency.

2. Step 2: Identify Docker image purpose

   Docker images package the app and its environment for reliable deployment.

3. Final Answer:

   To automate packaging the app for consistent deployment -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   CI builds images to package apps consistently [OK]

Hint: CI builds images to package apps consistently [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing image building with code writing
• Thinking CI uploads files manually
• Mixing deployment with monitoring

2. Which of the following is the correct command to build a Docker image named myapp with tag v1 from the current directory?

easy

A. docker build -t myapp:v1 .

B. docker create -t myapp:v1 .

C. docker run -t myapp:v1 .

D. docker push -t myapp:v1 .

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify Docker build syntax

   The correct syntax to build an image is docker build -t name:tag path.

2. Step 2: Match command to syntax

   docker build -t myapp:v1 . uses docker build -t myapp:v1 . which matches the syntax and current directory.

3. Final Answer:

   docker build -t myapp:v1 . -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Build command uses 'docker build -t name:tag path' [OK]

Hint: Use 'docker build -t name:tag path' to build images [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using 'docker create' instead of 'docker build'
• Confusing 'docker run' with building images
• Trying to push before building

3. Given this CI script snippet:

docker build -t myapp:latest .
docker tag myapp:latest myapp:build-123

What will be the result after running these commands?

medium

A. An error because tagging must happen before building

B. Only one image named 'myapp:build-123' exists

C. Two images: 'myapp:latest' and 'myapp:build-123' pointing to the same image

D. Two images with different contents

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand docker build output

   The build creates an image tagged 'myapp:latest'.

2. Step 2: Understand docker tag effect

   Tagging 'myapp:latest' as 'myapp:build-123' creates a new tag pointing to the same image.

3. Final Answer:

   Two images: 'myapp:latest' and 'myapp:build-123' pointing to the same image -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Tag duplicates image reference, no new image created [OK]

Hint: Tagging duplicates image reference, no new image built [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Thinking tagging creates a new image
• Assuming error if tag after build
• Believing images have different contents after tag

4. A CI pipeline script has this line:

docker build -t myapp .

But the build fails with error: "Cannot locate Dockerfile". What is the likely cause?

medium

A. The tag name 'myapp' is invalid

B. Dockerfile is missing in the current directory

C. The docker daemon is not running

D. The build command syntax is wrong

Solution

1. Step 1: Analyze error message

   "Cannot locate Dockerfile" means Docker can't find the Dockerfile in the build context.

2. Step 2: Check build context and files

   Since the path is '.', Docker expects a Dockerfile in the current directory, which is missing.

3. Final Answer:

   Dockerfile is missing in the current directory -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Missing Dockerfile causes this error [OK]

Hint: Check Dockerfile presence in build directory [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Blaming tag name for Dockerfile error
• Assuming daemon not running without checking
• Thinking build syntax is incorrect

5. In a CI pipeline, you want to tag Docker images with the build number stored in the environment variable BUILD_ID. Which command correctly builds and tags the image myapp with this dynamic tag?

hard

A. docker build -t 'myapp:${BUILD_ID}' .

B. docker build -t myapp:BUILD_ID .

C. docker build -t myapp:$(BUILD_ID) .

D. docker build -t myapp:$BUILD_ID .

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand shell variable syntax

   In shell scripts, environment variables are accessed with $VAR or ${VAR}.

2. Step 2: Identify correct variable usage in command

   docker build -t myapp:$BUILD_ID . uses $BUILD_ID which is valid and common in CI scripts.

3. Final Answer:

   docker build -t myapp:$BUILD_ID . -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Use $VAR to insert env variable in commands [OK]

Hint: Use $VAR to insert env variable in commands [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using literal 'BUILD_ID' instead of variable
• Using incorrect syntax like $(BUILD_ID)
• Forgetting to expand variable in tag