About Docker Cheatsheet

Docker + Compose commands for images, containers, volumes, Dockerfile. Part of the DevTools Surf developer suite. Browse more tools in the Cheatsheets collection.

Use Cases

• Quickly finding the command to exec into a running container
• Referencing docker-compose syntax during multi-service setup
• Looking up volume mount flags for persistent storage configuration
• Reviewing Dockerfile best practices during image optimization

Tips

• Use the Compose section for multi-container workflow commands
• Check the volume commands before deleting persistent data
• Search for Dockerfile directives to optimize your builds

Fun Facts

• Docker was released as open source by Solomon Hykes at PyCon in March 2013 and reached 1 billion container downloads within 3 years.
• Docker containers share the host OS kernel, making them up to 100x faster to start than traditional virtual machines.
• The Docker whale logo is named 'Moby Dock' and was designed in 2013 — the containers on its back represent the shipping container metaphor.

FAQ

Docker CLI or Docker Compose?

Both. Daily CLI commands (run, build, exec, logs) plus Compose basics (up, down, logs, exec with service names).

Does it cover multi-stage builds?

Yes — the canonical pattern with builder and runtime stages. Essential for small production images.

What about security hardening?

Non-root user, read-only filesystems, dropping capabilities, and secret mounts are covered. Not a full security guide but the common controls.

Is Docker Swarm or k8s in here?

Docker only. For Kubernetes commands see the kubectl Cheatsheet; Swarm is legacy.