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Orientation brief

05

Building Custom Images

So far, we've used images that other people built. We pulled nginx, python, postgres from Docker Hub. That's great for learning, but real applications need custom images. Your application isn't just nginx — it's nginx with your configuration. It's not just python — it's python with your code and your dependencies. In this module, we'll learn to write Dockerfiles and build our own images. By the end, you'll be able to package any application into a portable, reproducible container image.

01

Understand the problem this module is here to solve.

02

Read 5 chapters in order, from context to application.

03

Practice the module concepts through focused exercises.

Chapter route

Read in order

Chapter 5.1 Why Build Custom Images?
Chapter 5.2 The Dockerfile — A Recipe Card
Chapter 5.3 Essential Dockerfile Instructions
Chapter 5.4 Building Your First Image
Chapter 5.5 Build Context and .dockerignore

Practice

Module exercises

Move from reading to investigation with scenario-based practice for this module.

Open exercises →

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Reading-first Docker learning: understand, verify, and ship.