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Docker Cheat Sheet: Commands, Dockerfile & Compose

Every Docker command and Dockerfile instruction you forget, in one reference.

The CLI, Dockerfile, and compose essentials for local dev and CI.

CLI essentials

Command	Does
docker build -t name .	Build an image
docker run --rm -it name	Run a container
docker ps -a	List containers
docker images	List images
docker logs -f id	Follow logs
docker exec -it id sh	Shell into a container
docker system prune -af --volumes	Reclaim disk (CI-safe)

Dockerfile instructions

Instruction	Purpose
FROM	Base image
RUN	Execute at build time
COPY / ADD	Add files
WORKDIR	Set working dir
ENV	Set env var
EXPOSE	Document port
ENTRYPOINT / CMD	Default process

BuildKit cache (CI)

Terminal

docker buildx build \
  --cache-from type=gha \
  --cache-to type=gha,mode=max \
  -t myimage:latest .

Compose

Command	Does
docker compose up -d	Start services
docker compose build	Build services
docker compose logs -f	Follow logs
docker compose down -v	Stop + remove volumes

Related guides

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