The Ultimate Docker Command Cheatsheet & Pro Tips for Real-World Use

D: 🚀 Docker has revolutionized the way developers build, ship, and run applications. But with so many commands and options, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. Don’t worry! This guide covers must-know Docker commands and pro tips to supercharge your workflow.

🔥 1. Essential Docker Commands

1️⃣ Container Management

✔ Run a Container

docker run -d -p 8080:80 --name my_container nginx

• -d: Run in detached mode (background)
• -p 8080:80: Map host port 8080 to container port 80
• --name: Assign a custom name

✔ List Running Containers

docker ps

• Add -a to see all containers (including stopped ones).

✔ Start/Stop a Container

docker start my_container  
docker stop my_container  
docker restart my_container  

✔ Remove a Container

docker rm my_container  

• Use -f to force remove a running container.

2️⃣ Image Management

✔ Pull an Image

docker pull ubuntu:latest  

• Always specify a tag (:latest, :20.04, etc.).

✔ List Images

docker images  

✔ Remove an Image

docker rmi ubuntu  

• Use -f if the image is in use.

✔ Build an Image from Dockerfile

docker build -t my_app:1.0 .  

• -t: Tag the image (name:version).

3️⃣ Networking

✔ List Networks

docker network ls  

✔ Create a Custom Network

docker network create my_network  

✔ Connect a Container to a Network

docker network connect my_network my_container  

🚀 2. Pro Tips for Docker Power Users

💡 Tip 1: Use Docker Compose for Multi-Container Apps

Instead of running containers manually, define them in a docker-compose.yml file:

version: '3'  
services:  
  web:  
    image: nginx  
    ports:  
      - "8080:80"  
  db:  
    image: postgres  
    environment:  
      POSTGRES_PASSWORD: mypassword  

Then run:

docker-compose up -d  

💡 Tip 2: Clean Up Unused Resources

Free up disk space with:

docker system prune -a  

• Removes stopped containers, unused networks, dangling images, and build cache.

💡 Tip 3: Debugging Containers

✔ View Logs

docker logs my_container  

✔ Enter a Running Container

docker exec -it my_container bash  

• -it: Interactive terminal mode.

💡 Tip 4: Use Volumes for Persistent Data

docker run -v /host/path:/container/path my_image  

• Ensures data survives container restarts.

🎯 3. Real-World Use Cases

Case 1: Deploying a Web App

docker run -d -p 80:80 --name my_web_app nginx  

• Instantly serve a static website.

Case 2: Running a Database

docker run -d --name mysql_db -e MYSQL_ROOT_PASSWORD=secret mysql  

• Spin up a MySQL instance in seconds.

Case 3: CI/CD Automation

docker build -t my_app . && docker push my_app  

• Build and push to Docker Hub for deployment.

✅ Final Thoughts

Docker is powerful but simple once you master the basics. Bookmark this cheatsheet 🚀, and you’ll save hours of debugging!

🔗 Want more? Check out Docker’s official docs: https://docs.docker.com

💬 Which Docker command do you use most often? Let us know in the comments! 👇