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Building Docker Images and Deploying Applications

Building Docker Images and Deploying Applications
Hostman Team
Technical writer
Docker
18.06.2025
Reading time: 7 min

Containerizing applications offers a convenient and flexible way to quickly deploy software, including web servers, databases, monitoring systems, and others. Containers are also widely used in microservices architectures. Docker is ideal for these purposes, as it greatly simplifies working with containerized apps. Introduced in 2013, Docker has seen continuous support and usage ever since.

In this tutorial, you’ll learn how to create Docker images for three different applications written in different programming languages and how to run Docker containers from these images.

Prerequisites

To work with the Docker platform, you’ll need:

  • A VPS or virtual machine with any Linux distribution preinstalled. In this tutorial, we use Ubuntu 22.04.
  • Docker installed. You can find the Docker installation guide for Ubuntu 22.04 in our tutorials. Alternatively, you can use a prebuilt cloud server image with Docker — just select it in the “Marketplace” tab when creating a server.

What Is a Docker Image?

At the core of Docker’s concept is the image. A Docker image is a template—an executable file—you can use to start a Docker container. It contains everything needed to launch a ready-to-run application: source code, configuration files, third-party software, utilities, and libraries.

Docker image architecture is layer-based. Each layer represents an action performed during the image build process, such as creating files and directories or installing software. Docker uses the OverlayFS file system, which merges multiple mount points into one, resulting in a unified directory structure.

You can move Docker images between systems and use them in multiple locations, much like .exe executables in Windows systems.

Creating Custom Docker Images

Let’s walk through how to create Docker images for Flask, Node.js, and Go applications.

Creating a Docker Image for a Flask Application

To create images, a Dockerfile is used. Dockerfile is a plain text file without an extension that defines the steps to build a container image. You can find more details about Dockerfile instructions in the official documentation.

We’ll create a Docker image with a web application built with Flask and run the container. The application will show a basic HTML page that displays the current date.

1. Install Required Packages

Install the pip package manager and python3-venv for managing virtual environments:

apt -y install python3-pip python3-venv

2. Create the Project Directory

mkdir dockerfile-flask && cd dockerfile-flask

3. Create and Activate a Virtual Environment

python -m venv env
source env/bin/activate

After activation, you'll see (env) in your prompt, indicating the virtual environment is active. Packages installed via pip will now only affect this environment.

4. Install Flask and Dependencies

pip install flask
pip install MarkupSafe==2.1.5

5. Create the Flask Application

Create a file named app.py that will store the source code of our application:

from flask import Flask
import datetime

app = Flask(__name__)

@app.route('/')
def display_current_date():
    current_date = datetime.datetime.now().date()
    return f"Current date is: {current_date}"

if __name__ == '__main__':
    app.run(debug=True)

6. Run and Test the Application

flask run --host=0.0.0.0 --port=80

In your browser, visit your server’s IP address (port 80 doesn’t need to be specified as it’s the default one). You should see today’s date.

7. Freeze Dependencies

Now, we need to save all the dependencies (just the flask package in our case) to a requirements.txt file, which stores all packages used in the project and installed via pip.

pip freeze > requirements.txt

Your project structure should now look like this:

dockerfile-flask/
├── app.py
├── env/
├── requirements.txt

Now we can proceed to creating a Docker image.

8. Create the Dockerfile

Create a file named Dockerfile with the following contents:

FROM python:3.8-slim-buster
WORKDIR /app
COPY requirements.txt requirements.txt
RUN pip3 install -r requirements.txt
COPY . .
CMD [ "python3", "-m", "flask", "run", "--host=0.0.0.0", "--port=80" ]

Explanation:

  • FROM python:3.8-slim-buster: Use Python 3.8 base image on a lightweight Debian Buster base.
  • WORKDIR /app: Set the working directory inside the container (similar to the mkdir command in Linux systems)
  • COPY requirements.txt requirements.txt: Copy the dependency list into the image.
  • RUN pip3 install -r requirements.txt: The RUN directive runs the commands in the image. In this case, it’s used to install dependencies.
  • COPY . .: Copy all project files into the container.
  • CMD [...]: CMD defines the commands and app parameters to be used when the container starts.

9. Use a .dockerignore File

Create a .dockerignore file to exclude unnecessary directories. It helps to decrease the image size.

In our case, we have two directories that we don’t need to launch the app. Add them to the .dockerignore file:

env
__pycache__

10. Build the Docker Image

When building the image, we need to use a tag that would work as an identifier for the image. We’ll use the flask-app:01 tag.

docker build -t flask-app:01 .

The dot at the end means the Dockerfile is located in the same directory where we run the command.

Check the created image:

docker images

11. Run the Docker Container

docker run -d -p 80:80 flask-app:01
  • -d: Run the container in the background.

  • -p: Forward host port 80 to container port 80.

Check running containers:

docker ps

The STATUS column should show “Up”. 

Open your browser and navigate to your server's IP address to view the app.

Creating a Docker Image for a Node.js Application

Our simple Node.js app will display the message: “This app was created using Node.js!”

Make sure you have Node.js installed on your system.

1. Create the Project Directory

mkdir dockerfile-nodejs && cd dockerfile-nodejs

2. Initialize the Project

npm init --yes

3. Install Express

npm install express --save

4. Create the Application File

Create app.js with the following code:

const express = require("express");
const app = express();

app.get("/", function(req, res) {
    return res.send("This app was created using Node.js!");
});

app.listen(3000, '0.0.0.0', function(){
    console.log('Listening on port 3000');
});

5. Test the Application

node app.js

Open http://<your-server-ip>:3000 in a browser to verify it works.

6. Create the Dockerfile

FROM node:20
WORKDIR /app
COPY package.json /app
RUN npm install
COPY . /app
CMD ["node", "app.js"]

7. Add .dockerignore

Create .dockerignore and the following line:

**/node_modules/

8. Build the Image

docker build -t nodejs-app:01 .

9. Start the Container from Image

docker run -d -p 80:3000 nodejs-app:01

Visit http://<your-server-ip> in your browser. The app should be running.

Creating a Docker Image for a Go Application

This Go application will display: “Hello from GO!”

Make sure you have Go installed in your system.

1. Create the Project Directory

mkdir dockerfile-go && cd dockerfile-go

2. Initialize the Go Module

go mod init go-test-app

3. Create the Application File

Create main.go with this code of our application:

package main

import "fmt"

func main() {
    fmt.Println("Hello from GO!")
}

Verify it works:

go run .

4. Create the Dockerfile

FROM golang:1.23-alpine
WORKDIR /app
COPY go.mod ./
RUN go mod download
COPY *.go ./
RUN go build -o /go-test
CMD [ "/go-test" ]
  • COPY go.mod ./: Adds dependencies file.
  • RUN go mod download: Installs dependencies.
  • COPY *.go ./: Adds source code.
  • RUN go build -o /go-test: Compiles the binary.

5. Build the Image

docker build -t go:01 .

6. Run the Container

docker run go:01

You should see the output: Hello from GO!

Conclusion

In this guide, we walked through building custom Docker images for three applications written in different programming languages. Docker allows you to package any application and deploy it with ease.

And if you’re looking for a reliable, high-performance, and budget-friendly solution for your workflows, Hostman has you covered with Linux VPS Hosting options, including Debian VPS, Ubuntu VPS, and VPS CentOS.

Docker
18.06.2025
Reading time: 7 min

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For those who want full control over their data, Nextcloud provides a powerful open-source solution for building a private cloud storage system. It not only enables secure file synchronization across devices but also allows you to deploy storage on your own server, avoiding reliance on third-party providers. In this guide, we’ll go through the process of installing Nextcloud using isolated Docker containers, which greatly simplifies deployment and management. We’ll also configure automatic traffic encryption with SSL certificates from Let’s Encrypt to ensure secure data transmission. Prerequisites You will need: A Hostman cloud server with Linux Ubuntu 24.04 pre-installed. A domain name. Docker and Docker Compose installed. For the server, choose a configuration with 1 CPU core, 2 GB of RAM, and a public IPv4 address, which you can request when creating the server or later in the “Network” section. The server will be set up within a few minutes. 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Step 1: Create a Configuration Directory First, we create a directory where we will store configuration files, and navigate to it. mkdir nextcloud && cd nextcloud Step 2: Create an .env File This hidden file will store variables with passwords: nano .env File contents: NEXTCLOUD_ROOT_PASSWORD=secure_root_password_123 NEXTCLOUD_DB_PASSWORD=secure_nextcloud_db_password_456 NPM_ROOT_PASSWORD=secure_npm_root_password_789 NPM_DB_PASSWORD=secure_npm_db_password_012 Don’t forget to replace the values with your own. 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24 September 2025 · 5 min to read
Docker

Docker Exec: Access, Commands, and Use Cases

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You can quickly inspect logs, check the file system contents, or run diagnostic tools inside the container to investigate issues. For example, you could run:  docker exec -it my-container tail -f /var/log/syslog This command will allow you to stream the contents of a log file in real-time to help identify problems. Configuration Modification: docker exec is useful for making quick configuration changes inside containers. For instance, if you need to update environment variables or adjust configuration files for an application running in a container, you can do so without restarting the container. Example: docker exec my-container bash -c "echo 'new_value' > /path/to/config/file" Maintenance Tasks: For ongoing maintenance, docker exec allows you to perform various tasks such as running database migrations, executing backups, or installing missing packages within the container. For example: docker exec my-container /bin/bash -c "apt-get update && apt-get install -y new-package" This can be helpful when you need to manage container-based services without interrupting their operation. Security Audits: docker exec enables security professionals to examine a container's internal state, check for potential vulnerabilities, or review installed software and packages for compliance. You can execute commands like: docker exec my-container dpkg -l | grep vulnerable-package  This can help in scanning containers for security flaws or outdated software that may pose a risk. Running Ad-Hoc Commands: Sometimes, you need to run quick, one-time commands inside a container for tasks such as checking the system status, testing a specific command, or inspecting the environment. docker exec allows you to run such commands without the need to enter the container interactively. Example: docker exec my-container uptime This will return the uptime of the container without needing to access the shell. Conclusion The docker exec command is an effective tool for managing containers without interfering with their lifecycle. It allows you to run commands as different users, pass variables, check logs, and perform administrative tasks. When working in cloud services such as Hostman, this is especially useful: you can perform targeted actions without rebuilding the image and without risking the main process. It is important to remember: docker exec is a manual tool and does not replace automated DevOps approaches. For system-level changes, it is better to use Dockerfile and CI/CD, keeping your infrastructure reproducible and secure. FAQ 1. What does docker exec do? The docker exec command allows you to run commands inside an already running container. You can execute simple one-off commands (e.g., ls, cat, ps) or launch a full shell session (/bin/bash or /bin/sh). This is useful for debugging, inspecting processes, modifying configuration, or performing administrative tasks within the container. Example:docker exec my-container ls -l This lists files inside the container named my-container. 2. How do I get into docker exec? To open an interactive shell inside a container, you use docker exec with the -it flags: -i keeps STDIN open (interactive mode). -t allocates a pseudo-terminal (TTY). Example: docker exec -it my-container /bin/bash This drops you into a Bash shell inside the container. If Bash is not available, you can try /bin/sh: docker exec -it my-container /bin/sh 3. What is the difference between shell and exec in Docker? docker exec: Runs a command inside an already running container. You use it when you want to access or inspect a container that’s currently active. docker run with a shell (like /bin/bash): Creates a new container from an image and immediately launches the specified shell. 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05 September 2025 · 10 min to read
Docker

How to Install Docker on Ubuntu 22.04

Docker is a free, open-source tool for application containerization. Containers are isolated environments similar to virtual machines (VMs), but they are more lightweight and portable across platforms, requiring fewer system resources. Docker uses OS-level virtualization, leveraging features built into the Linux kernel. Apps order after installing Docker on Ubuntu Although it applies to other Ubuntu versions as well, this tutorial explains how to install Docker on Ubuntu 22.04. We'll also download Docker Compose, which is a necessary tool for effectively managing several containers. For this guide, we will use a Hostman cloud server. System Requirements According to Docker's documentation, the following 64-bit Ubuntu versions are supported: Ubuntu Oracular 24.10 Ubuntu Noble 24.04 (LTS) Ubuntu Jammy 22.04 (LTS) Ubuntu Focal 20.04 (LTS) Docker works on most popular architectures. The resource requirements for your device will depend on your intended use and how comfortably you want to work with Docker. The scale of applications you plan to deploy in containers will largely dictate the system needs. Some sources recommend a minimum of 2 GB of RAM. Additionally, a stable internet connection is required. Installing Docker on Ubuntu 22.04 Installing Docker on Ubuntu 22.04 involves executing a series of terminal commands. Below is a step-by-step guide with explanations. The steps are also applicable to server versions of Ubuntu. 1. Update Package Indexes The default repository may not always contain the latest software releases. Therefore, we will download Docker from its official repository to ensure the latest version. First, update the package indexes: sudo apt update 2. Install Additional Packages To install Docker, you’ll need to download four additional packages: curl: Required for interacting with web resources. software-properties-common: Enables software management via scripts. ca-certificates: Contains information about certification authorities. apt-transport-https: Necessary for data transfer over the HTTPS protocol. Download these packages with the following command: sudo apt install curl software-properties-common ca-certificates apt-transport-https -y The -y flag automatically answers "Yes" to all terminal prompts. 3. Import the GPG Key Software signatures must be verified using the GPG key. Docker's repository must be added to the local list. Use the command to import the GPG key: wget -O- https://download.docker.com/linux/ubuntu/gpg | gpg --dearmor | sudo tee /etc/apt/keyrings/docker.gpg > /dev/null During the import process, the terminal may display a warning before confirming the successful execution of the command. 4. Add Docker Repository Add the repository for your version of Ubuntu, named "Jammy." For other versions, use their respective code names listed in the "System Requirements" section. Run the following command: echo "deb [arch=amd64 signed-by=/etc/apt/keyrings/docker.gpg] https://download.docker.com/linux/ubuntu jammy stable" | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/docker.list > /dev/null During execution, the terminal will prompt you to confirm the operation. Press Enter. 5. Update Package Indexes Again After making these changes, update the package indexes once more using the familiar command: sudo apt update 6. Verify the Repository Ensure that the installation will proceed from the correct repository by running the following command: apt-cache policy docker-ce Output example: Depending on the most recent Docker releases, the result could change. Verifying that the installation will be carried out from Docker's official repository is crucial. 7. Installing Docker After configuring the repositories, proceed with the Docker installation: sudo apt install docker-ce -y The installation process will begin immediately. To confirm a successful installation, check Docker's status in the system: sudo systemctl status docker Output example: The output should indicate that the Docker service is active and running. And if you’re looking for a reliable, high-performance, and budget-friendly solution for your workflows, Hostman has you covered with Linux VPS Hosting options, including Debian VPS, Ubuntu VPS, and VPS CentOS. Installing Docker Compose Docker Compose is a Docker tool designed for managing multiple containers. It is commonly used in projects where many containers must work together as a unified system. Managing this process manually can be challenging. Instead, you describe the entire configuration in a single YAML file containing the settings and configurations for all containers and their applications. There are several ways to install Docker Compose. If you need the latest version, make sure to use manual installation and installation via the Git version control system. Installation via apt-get If having the latest version is not critical for you, Docker Compose can be installed directly from the Ubuntu repository. Run the following command: sudo apt-get install docker-compose Installing via Git First, install Git: sudo apt-get install git Verify the installation by checking the Git version: git --version The output should show the Git version. Next, clone the Docker Compose repository. Navigate to the Docker Compose GitHub page and copy the repository URL. Run the following command to clone the repository: git clone https://github.com/docker/compose.git The cloning process will begin, and the repository will be downloaded from GitHub. Manual Installation Go to the Docker Compose GitHub repository and locate the latest release version under the Latest tag. At the time of writing, the Latest version of Docker Compose is v2.31.0. Let's download it: sudo curl -L "https://github.com/docker/compose/releases/download/v2.31.0/docker-compose-$(uname -s)-$(uname -m)" -o /usr/local/bin/docker-compose In this command, the parameters $(uname -s) and $(uname -m) automatically account for the system characteristics and architecture. After the download finishes, change the file's permissions: sudo chmod +x /usr/local/bin/docker-compose Right order of your infrastructure after installation of Docker on Ubuntu Conclusion In this guide, we covered the installation of Docker on Ubuntu 22.04, along with several ways to install Docker Compose. You can order a cloud server at Hostman for your experiments and practice.
22 August 2025 · 5 min to read

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