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

Building Docker images in pipeline

📖 Scenario: You work in a team that uses Jenkins to automate software builds. Your task is to create a Jenkins pipeline script that builds a Docker image from a simple Dockerfile. This helps your team package applications consistently.

🎯 Goal: Build a Jenkins pipeline script that defines a Docker image build step using a Dockerfile in the project folder. The pipeline should build the image with a specific name.

📋 What You'll Learn

Create a Jenkins pipeline script with a pipeline block

Define an agent to run the pipeline on any available node

Add a stage named Build Docker Image

Inside the stage, run a shell command to build a Docker image named myapp:latest using the Dockerfile in the current directory

Print a message after the build completes

💡 Why This Matters

🌍 Real World

Teams use Jenkins pipelines to automate building Docker images for consistent application packaging and deployment.

💼 Career

Knowing how to write Jenkins pipelines that build Docker images is a key skill for DevOps engineers and automation specialists.

1

Create the Jenkins pipeline skeleton

Write a Jenkins pipeline script starting with pipeline block and an agent any declaration.

Jenkins

pipeline {
    agent any
    // Your code here
}

Hint

Start by writing pipeline { and inside it add agent any to run on any node.

2

Add a stage to build the Docker image

Inside the pipeline block, add a stages block with one stage named Build Docker Image.

Jenkins

pipeline {
    agent any
    stages {
        // Your code here
    }
}

Hint

Add stages {} inside pipeline. Then add a stage('Build Docker Image') with steps {} inside.

3

Add the Docker build shell command

Inside the steps block of the Build Docker Image stage, add a sh step that runs docker build -t myapp:latest . to build the Docker image.

Jenkins

pipeline {
    agent any
    stages {
        stage('Build Docker Image') {
            steps {
                // Add shell command to build Docker image here
            }
        }
    }
}

Hint

Use sh 'docker build -t myapp:latest .' inside steps to run the Docker build command.

4

Print a message after building the image

After the sh command inside the steps block, add a echo step that prints 'Docker image myapp:latest built successfully.'.

Jenkins

pipeline {
    agent any
    stages {
        stage('Build Docker Image') {
            steps {
                sh 'docker build -t myapp:latest .'
                // Add echo message here
            }
        }
    }
}

Hint

Use echo 'Docker image myapp:latest built successfully.' after the shell command to print the message.

Practice

1. What is the main purpose of using docker.build() in a Jenkins pipeline?

easy

A. To run tests inside a Docker container

B. To deploy a Docker container to a cloud service

C. To remove unused Docker images from the system

D. To create a Docker image from a Dockerfile during the pipeline execution

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the role of docker.build()

   This command is used to build Docker images from a Dockerfile within a Jenkins pipeline.

2. Step 2: Differentiate from other Docker commands

   It does not deploy containers, remove images, or run tests directly; it only builds images.

3. Final Answer:

   To create a Docker image from a Dockerfile during the pipeline execution -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   docker.build() builds images [OK]

Hint: Remember: docker.build() creates images, not containers [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing image build with container deployment
• Thinking docker.build() removes images
• Assuming docker.build() runs tests

2. Which of the following is the correct syntax to build a Docker image named myapp inside a Jenkins pipeline script block?

easy

A. docker.build image: 'myapp'

B. docker.build('image=myapp')

C. docker.build('myapp')

D. docker.build('build myapp')

Solution

1. Step 1: Recall the correct method signature

   The docker.build() method takes the image name as a string argument, e.g., docker.build('myapp').

2. Step 2: Identify incorrect syntax

   Options A, C, and D use invalid syntax or incorrect parameter formats.

3. Final Answer:

   docker.build('myapp') -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Correct syntax is docker.build('imageName') [OK]

Hint: Use docker.build('imageName') inside script block [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using key-value syntax incorrectly
• Adding extra words inside the string
• Missing quotes around image name

3. Given this Jenkins pipeline snippet inside a script block:

def image = docker.build('myapp:latest')
image.push()

What will happen when this pipeline runs?

medium

A. Builds the Docker image 'myapp:latest' and pushes it to the default Docker registry

B. Builds the Docker image but does not push it anywhere

C. Pushes an existing image 'myapp:latest' without building it

D. Fails because image.push() is not a valid method

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand docker.build() and image.push()

   The docker.build() command builds the image and returns an object representing it. Calling image.push() pushes the built image to the Docker registry.

2. Step 2: Confirm the sequence of actions

   The code builds 'myapp:latest' and then pushes it to the default Docker registry configured in Jenkins.

3. Final Answer:

   Builds the Docker image 'myapp:latest' and pushes it to the default Docker registry -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   docker.build() + image.push() builds and pushes [OK]

Hint: docker.build() returns image object; call push() to upload [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Assuming push happens automatically without calling push()
• Thinking push() is invalid method
• Confusing build and push steps

4. You wrote this Jenkins pipeline snippet:

pipeline {
  agent any
  stages {
    stage('Build') {
      steps {
        docker.build('myapp')
      }
    }
  }
}

But the build fails with error: docker.build is not recognized. What is the most likely cause?

medium

A. The docker variable is not available outside a script block

B. The Dockerfile is missing in the workspace

C. The Jenkins agent does not have Docker installed

D. The image name 'myapp' is invalid

Solution

1. Step 1: Check usage of docker.build()

   In declarative pipelines, docker.build() must be called inside a script block to access the Docker DSL.

2. Step 2: Identify the error cause

   Calling docker.build() directly in steps without script causes the method to be unrecognized.

3. Final Answer:

   The docker variable is not available outside a script block -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Use script block for docker.build() [OK]

Hint: Always wrap docker.build() inside script block [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Ignoring need for script block
• Assuming missing Dockerfile causes this error
• Blaming Docker installation without checking syntax

5. You want to build a Docker image in Jenkins pipeline and tag it with the current Git commit hash. Which snippet correctly achieves this inside a script block?

hard

A. def commit = sh('git rev-parse --short HEAD')
def image = docker.build('myapp:commit')

B. def commit = sh(script: 'git rev-parse --short HEAD', returnStdout: true).trim()
def image = docker.build("myapp:${commit}")

C. def commit = git rev-parse --short HEAD
def image = docker.build('myapp:${commit}')

D. def commit = sh(script: 'git rev-parse --short HEAD')
def image = docker.build('myapp:commit')

Solution

1. Step 1: Correctly capture Git commit hash in Jenkins

   Use sh with returnStdout: true and trim() to get the commit hash as a string.

2. Step 2: Use the commit variable in docker.build()

   Use double quotes and string interpolation to tag the image with the commit hash.

3. Final Answer:

   def commit = sh(script: 'git rev-parse --short HEAD', returnStdout: true).trim() def image = docker.build("myapp:${commit}") -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Use sh with returnStdout and string interpolation [OK]

Hint: Use sh(..., returnStdout:true).trim() and "myapp:${commit}" [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Not using returnStdout to capture command output
• Using single quotes preventing variable interpolation
• Assigning shell command output incorrectly