$devvkit resources --cheatsheet docker-cheatsheet

Docker Cheatsheet

[containers]

Common Docker commands for building, running, and managing containers and images.

Docker simplifies application deployment by packaging code and dependencies into lightweight containers. This cheatsheet covers image management, container lifecycle, Docker Compose for multi-service apps, and system maintenance.

All commands target the Docker CLI. For container orchestration at scale, see the Kubernetes cheatsheet.

Image Management

$docker pull <image>

Pull an image from a registry (Docker Hub, GHCR, etc.).Example: docker pull node:20-alpine

$docker images

List all locally available images.Example: docker images

$docker build -t <name> .

Build an image from a Dockerfile in the current directory.Example: docker build -t my-app .

$docker build --no-cache -t <name> .

Force a fresh build without using the layer cache.Example: docker build --no-cache -t my-app .

$docker tag <image> <repo>/<name>:<tag>

Tag an image with a new name for pushing.Example: docker tag my-app ghcr.io/user/my-app:latest

$docker push <repo>/<name>:<tag>

Push an image to a remote registry.Example: docker push ghcr.io/user/my-app:latest

$docker rmi <image>

Remove one or more images by name or ID.Example: docker rmi my-app

Container Lifecycle

$docker run <image>

Create and start a container from an image.Example: docker run -p 3000:3000 my-app

$docker run -d --name <name> <image>

Run a container in detached (background) mode with a name.Example: docker run -d --name app my-app

$docker run --rm <image>

Run a container and automatically remove it when it exits.Example: docker run --rm node:20 node -e "console.log(1)"

$docker run -v <host>:<container> <image>

Mount a host directory as a volume inside the container.Example: docker run -v $(pwd):/app my-app

$docker run --env <KEY>=<val> <image>

Set environment variables in the container.Example: docker run -e NODE_ENV=production my-app

$docker ps

List currently running containers.Example: docker ps

$docker ps -a

List all containers, including stopped ones.Example: docker ps -a

$docker start <container>

Start a stopped container.Example: docker start my-app

$docker stop <container>

Gracefully stop a running container (SIGTERM).Example: docker stop my-app

$docker restart <container>

Restart a running container.Example: docker restart my-app

$docker rm <container>

Remove a stopped container.Example: docker rm my-app

$docker rm -f <container>

Force remove a running container (SIGKILL).Example: docker rm -f my-app

Debugging & Shell

$docker logs <container>

View logs from a container.Example: docker logs -f my-app

$docker logs --tail 100 -f <container>

Tail the last 100 log lines and follow new output.Example: docker logs --tail 100 -f my-app

$docker exec -it <container> <cmd>

Run a command in a running container interactively.Example: docker exec -it my-app sh

$docker cp <src> <container>:<dest>

Copy a file or directory from host to container.Example: docker cp ./config.json my-app:/app/config.json

$docker cp <container>:<src> <dest>

Copy a file or directory from container to host.Example: docker cp my-app:/app/logs ./logs

$docker inspect <container>

Display low-level JSON metadata about a container or image.Example: docker inspect my-app

$docker stats

Show live CPU, memory, and network usage for running containers.Example: docker stats

Docker Compose

$docker-compose up

Create and start all services defined in docker-compose.yml.Example: docker-compose up -d

$docker-compose down

Stop and remove all containers, networks, and volumes defined in compose.Example: docker-compose down -v

$docker-compose logs -f

Follow logs from all services in the compose project.Example: docker-compose logs -f

$docker-compose build

Build or rebuild all images defined in docker-compose.yml.Example: docker-compose build --no-cache

$docker-compose exec <service> <cmd>

Run a command in a running compose service.Example: docker-compose exec app sh

System & Cleanup

$docker system df

Show disk usage by images, containers, volumes, and build cache.Example: docker system df

$docker system prune

Remove all unused containers, networks, and dangling images.Example: docker system prune

$docker system prune -a --volumes

Aggressive cleanup — removes all unused images, containers, volumes, and build cache.Example: docker system prune -a --volumes

$docker volume ls

List all Docker volumes.Example: docker volume ls

$docker network ls

List all Docker networks.Example: docker network ls

Docker Cheatsheet

Common Docker commands for building, running, and managing containers and images.

All commands target the Docker CLI. For container orchestration at scale, see the Kubernetes cheatsheet.

Image Management

docker pull <image> — Pull an image from a registry (Docker Hub, GHCR, etc.).

Example: docker pull node:20-alpine

docker images — List all locally available images.

Example: docker images

docker build -t <name> . — Build an image from a Dockerfile in the current directory.

Example: docker build -t my-app .

docker build --no-cache -t <name> . — Force a fresh build without using the layer cache.

Example: docker build --no-cache -t my-app .

docker tag <image> <repo>/<name>:<tag> — Tag an image with a new name for pushing.

Example: docker tag my-app ghcr.io/user/my-app:latest

docker push <repo>/<name>:<tag> — Push an image to a remote registry.

Example: docker push ghcr.io/user/my-app:latest

docker rmi <image> — Remove one or more images by name or ID.

Example: docker rmi my-app

Container Lifecycle

docker run <image> — Create and start a container from an image.

Example: docker run -p 3000:3000 my-app

docker run -d --name <name> <image> — Run a container in detached (background) mode with a name.

Example: docker run -d --name app my-app

docker run --rm <image> — Run a container and automatically remove it when it exits.

Example: docker run --rm node:20 node -e "console.log(1)"

docker run -v <host>:<container> <image> — Mount a host directory as a volume inside the container.

Example: docker run -v $(pwd):/app my-app

docker run --env <KEY>=<val> <image> — Set environment variables in the container.

Example: docker run -e NODE_ENV=production my-app

docker ps — List currently running containers.

Example: docker ps

docker ps -a — List all containers, including stopped ones.

Example: docker ps -a

docker start <container> — Start a stopped container.

Example: docker start my-app

docker stop <container> — Gracefully stop a running container (SIGTERM).

Example: docker stop my-app

docker restart <container> — Restart a running container.

Example: docker restart my-app

docker rm <container> — Remove a stopped container.

Example: docker rm my-app

docker rm -f <container> — Force remove a running container (SIGKILL).

Example: docker rm -f my-app

Debugging & Shell

docker logs <container> — View logs from a container.

Example: docker logs -f my-app

docker logs --tail 100 -f <container> — Tail the last 100 log lines and follow new output.

Example: docker logs --tail 100 -f my-app

docker exec -it <container> <cmd> — Run a command in a running container interactively.

Example: docker exec -it my-app sh

docker cp <src> <container>:<dest> — Copy a file or directory from host to container.

Example: docker cp ./config.json my-app:/app/config.json

docker cp <container>:<src> <dest> — Copy a file or directory from container to host.

Example: docker cp my-app:/app/logs ./logs

docker inspect <container> — Display low-level JSON metadata about a container or image.

Example: docker inspect my-app

docker stats — Show live CPU, memory, and network usage for running containers.

Example: docker stats

Docker Compose

docker-compose up — Create and start all services defined in docker-compose.yml.

Example: docker-compose up -d

docker-compose down — Stop and remove all containers, networks, and volumes defined in compose.

Example: docker-compose down -v

docker-compose logs -f — Follow logs from all services in the compose project.

Example: docker-compose logs -f

docker-compose build — Build or rebuild all images defined in docker-compose.yml.

Example: docker-compose build --no-cache

docker-compose exec <service> <cmd> — Run a command in a running compose service.

Example: docker-compose exec app sh

System & Cleanup

docker system df — Show disk usage by images, containers, volumes, and build cache.

Example: docker system df

docker system prune — Remove all unused containers, networks, and dangling images.

Example: docker system prune

docker system prune -a --volumes — Aggressive cleanup — removes all unused images, containers, volumes, and build cache.

Example: docker system prune -a --volumes

docker volume ls — List all Docker volumes.

Example: docker volume ls

docker network ls — List all Docker networks.

Example: docker network ls