Docker Pipeline plugin in Jenkins - Cheat Sheet & Quick Revision

Recall & Review

beginner

What is the Docker Pipeline plugin in Jenkins?

It is a Jenkins plugin that allows you to build, run, and manage Docker containers directly within Jenkins Pipeline scripts.

beginner

How do you start a Docker container in a Jenkins Pipeline using the Docker Pipeline plugin?

You use the docker.image('image_name').inside { ... } block to run commands inside a Docker container during the pipeline.

intermediate

What is the purpose of the docker.build() method in the Docker Pipeline plugin?

It builds a Docker image from a Dockerfile in your workspace and returns a Docker image object for further use in the pipeline.

intermediate

How can you push a Docker image to a registry using the Docker Pipeline plugin?

After building the image with docker.build(), you call image.push('tag') to upload it to the Docker registry.

beginner

What is the benefit of using the Docker Pipeline plugin in Jenkins pipelines?

It simplifies Docker container management in CI/CD pipelines, making builds more consistent and portable by running steps inside containers.

Which Jenkins plugin allows you to run Docker containers inside pipeline scripts?

A Docker Pipeline plugin

B Git plugin

C Slack Notification plugin

D Email Extension plugin

The Docker Pipeline plugin integrates Docker commands into Jenkins pipelines.

What does the docker.image('myimage').inside { ... } block do in a Jenkins pipeline?

A Pushes 'myimage' to a Docker registry

B Builds a Docker image named 'myimage'

C Runs commands inside a Docker container based on 'myimage'

D Deletes the Docker image 'myimage'

The inside block runs pipeline steps inside the specified Docker container.

How do you build a Docker image from a Dockerfile in Jenkins Pipeline using the Docker Pipeline plugin?

A docker.pull('imageName')

B docker.run('imageName')

C docker.push('imageName')

D docker.build('imageName')

docker.build() builds an image from the Dockerfile in the workspace.

Which method is used to upload a Docker image to a registry in Jenkins Pipeline?

A docker.build('tag')

B image.push('tag')

C docker.pull('tag')

D image.run('tag')

After building, image.push() uploads the image to the Docker registry.

What is a key advantage of using Docker Pipeline plugin in Jenkins?

A It allows running pipeline steps inside containers for consistency

B It replaces Jenkins with Docker

C It disables Docker usage in pipelines

D It only works with Kubernetes

Running steps inside containers ensures consistent environments during builds.

Explain how to build, run, and push a Docker image using the Docker Pipeline plugin in Jenkins.

Think about the sequence: build, run, then push.

Describe the benefits of using the Docker Pipeline plugin in Jenkins CI/CD pipelines.

Focus on how it helps with container use in automation.

Practice

1. What is the primary purpose of the docker.build() method in Jenkins Docker Pipeline plugin?

easy

A. To remove unused Docker images

B. To run a Docker container interactively

C. To build a Docker image from a Dockerfile

D. To push a Docker image to a registry

Solution

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

   This method is used to create a Docker image from a Dockerfile in the workspace.

2. Step 2: Differentiate from other Docker Pipeline methods

   Running containers uses docker.image().inside { }, pushing uses docker.withRegistry(), and removing images is not handled by docker.build().

3. Final Answer:

   To build a Docker image from a Dockerfile -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   docker.build() builds images [OK]

Hint: Remember: build = create image from Dockerfile [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing build with push or run commands
• Thinking docker.build() runs containers
• Assuming it handles image removal

2. Which of the following is the correct syntax to run commands inside a Docker container in a Jenkins pipeline?

easy

A. docker.image('myimage').inside { sh 'echo Hello' }

B. docker.build('myimage') { sh 'echo Hello' }

C. docker.run('myimage') { sh 'echo Hello' }

D. docker.container('myimage').exec { sh 'echo Hello' }

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify the correct method to run commands inside a container

   The docker.image('myimage').inside { } syntax runs commands inside a container created from the image.

2. Step 2: Check other options for syntax errors or misuse

   docker.run() and docker.container() are not valid Jenkins Pipeline methods; docker.build() builds images but does not run containers.

3. Final Answer:

   docker.image('myimage').inside { sh 'echo Hello' } -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Use docker.image().inside { } to run commands [OK]

Hint: Use docker.image().inside { } to run commands inside containers [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using docker.build() to run commands
• Trying to use non-existent methods like docker.run()
• Confusing image build and container run syntax

3. Given the following Jenkins pipeline snippet, what will be the output of the sh command inside the container?

def img = docker.build('myapp:latest')
img.inside {
  sh 'echo Hello from Docker'
}

medium

A. Error: No such image 'myapp:latest'

B. Hello from Docker

C. Build logs of the Docker image

D. Nothing, the command is not executed

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the build and run sequence

   The docker.build('myapp:latest') creates the image, then img.inside { } runs commands inside a container from that image.

2. Step 2: Analyze the sh command inside the container

   The shell command echo Hello from Docker runs inside the container and outputs the string.

3. Final Answer:

   Hello from Docker -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Commands inside img.inside { } run and output normally [OK]

Hint: Commands inside img.inside { } run inside container [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Assuming build only creates logs, not image
• Thinking the command runs outside the container
• Expecting an error if image was just built

4. Identify the error in this Jenkins pipeline snippet using Docker Pipeline plugin:

docker.withRegistry('https://myregistry.com', 'my-credentials') {
  def img = docker.build('myapp')
  img.push()
}
img.inside {
  sh 'echo Running inside container'
}

medium

A. The img.push() should be called before docker.withRegistry

B. The docker.build method is missing the Dockerfile path

C. The credentials ID 'my-credentials' is invalid syntax

D. The img.inside block is outside the docker.withRegistry block and will fail

Solution

1. Step 1: Check scope of img variable

   The variable img is defined inside the docker.withRegistry block, so it is not accessible outside that block.

2. Step 2: Identify the error with img.inside usage

   Using img.inside outside the block where img is defined causes a runtime error because img is undefined there.

3. Final Answer:

   The img.inside block is outside the docker.withRegistry block and will fail -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Variable scope matters in Jenkins pipeline blocks [OK]

Hint: Keep variable usage inside the block where it's defined [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Assuming variables are global across blocks
• Confusing credentials ID syntax
• Thinking push must be outside withRegistry

5. You want to build a Docker image, run tests inside a container from that image, and then push the image to a private registry using Jenkins Docker Pipeline plugin. Which pipeline snippet correctly implements this workflow?

hard

A. def img = docker.build('myapp:test')
img.inside {
sh 'run-tests.sh'
}
docker.withRegistry('https://registry.example.com', 'creds') {
img.push()
}

B. docker.withRegistry('https://registry.example.com', 'creds') {
def img = docker.build('myapp:test')
img.push()
img.inside {
sh 'run-tests.sh'
}
}

C. docker.withRegistry('https://registry.example.com', 'creds') {
img.push()
def img = docker.build('myapp:test')
img.inside {
sh 'run-tests.sh'
}
}

D. def img = docker.build('myapp:test')
docker.withRegistry('https://registry.example.com', 'creds') {
img.push()
}
img.inside {
sh 'run-tests.sh'
}

Solution

1. Step 1: Build image and run tests inside container first

   The image must be built before running tests inside it, so docker.build() and img.inside { } come first.

2. Step 2: Push image inside docker.withRegistry() block after tests

   Pushing requires registry credentials, so img.push() must be inside docker.withRegistry() block after tests pass.

3. Step 3: Verify variable scope and order

   def img = docker.build('myapp:test') img.inside { sh 'run-tests.sh' } docker.withRegistry('https://registry.example.com', 'creds') { img.push() } correctly builds image, runs tests inside container, then pushes image with credentials in proper order and scope.

4. Final Answer:

   def img = docker.build('myapp:test') img.inside { sh 'run-tests.sh' } docker.withRegistry('https://registry.example.com', 'creds') { img.push() } -> Option A

5. Quick Check:

   Build -> Test inside container -> Push with credentials [OK]

Hint: Build first, test inside container, then push inside withRegistry [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Pushing image before running tests
• Using img.inside after pushing outside scope
• Defining variables inside wrong blocks