Docker Commands: A Simple Guide
August 6th, 2024 1:39 PM Mr. Q Categories: Docker
In this article, we will introduce the most common and helpful Docker commands to a fifth grader in an easy-to-understand way. By learning these commands, you’ll be able to work with Docker containers more effectively!
Table of Contents
Introduction
Hey there, little buddy! Today, we’re going to learn about Docker commands. Docker is a tool that helps you run and manage programs in special “containers.” These containers make it easy to work with different software without needing to install everything on your computer. Let’s explore some of the most useful Docker commands!
Basic Commands
- docker version: This command shows you the version of Docker you have installed. It’s like checking if your toy is a new model or an older one.
docker version- docker info: This command gives you information about your Docker setup, like how much space it uses.
docker info- docker ps: This command shows you a list of all the containers that are currently running. It’s like seeing all your friends who are playing with you right now!
docker ps- docker stats: is a command used in Docker to provide real-time statistics about the resource usage of your running Docker containers. It displays details such as CPU usage, memory usage, network I/O, and block I/O for each container. This command helps monitor the performance and resource consumption of containers.
docker stats [OPTIONS] [CONTAINER...]
docker stats --format "{{.Name}}: {{.CPUPerc}} {{.MemUsage}}"
CONTAINER ID NAME CPU % MEM USAGE / LIMIT MEM % NET I/O BLOCK I/O PIDS
c0555ae96778 nas1 0.00% 36KiB / 5.813GiB 0.00% 7.32kB / 3.19kB 0B / 0B 0
b036db016056 nas2 0.00% 36KiB / 5.813GiB 0.00% 27.8kB / 15.4kB 0B / 0B 0
9ce280a0419d nas3 0.00% 36KiB / 5.813GiB 0.00% 4.98kB / 0B 0B / 0B 0
07c181fe4a77 nss4 0.00% 36KiB / 5.813GiB 0.00% 6.71kB / 860B 0B / 0B 0
91d87a37ad23 website1 5.50% 81.31MiB / 5.813GiB 1.37% 5.06GB / 7.51GB 0B / 0B 0
2192556899d3 sdk 0.00% 4KiB / 5.813GiB 0.00% 0B / 0B 0B / 0B 0
aa3e990fa5b7 website2 72.81% 250MiB / 512MiB 48.82% 5.54GB / 943MB 0B / 0B 0
08fb250a644f website2-d 1.22% 58.1MiB / 512MiB 11.35% 1.88GB / 14.4GB 0B / 0B 0
a49c92560077 website3 0.00% 59.18MiB / 5.813GiB 0.99% 14MB / 4.99MB 0B / 0B 0
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| CONTAINER ID | The ID of the container. |
| NAME | The name of the container. |
| CPU % | CPU usage as a percentage of the total host capacity. |
| MEM USAGE / LIMIT | Memory used by the container, followed by the total memory limit. |
| MEM % | Memory usage as a percentage of the container’s memory limit. |
| NET I/O | The amount of network input and output (sent/received). |
| BLOCK I/O | Block storage input and output (e.g., disk I/O). |
| PIDS | The number of processes or threads in the container. |
Building Images
Docker images are like special blueprints for your containers. They have everything needed to run a program. Here are some important commands to work with Docker images:
- docker build: This command helps you create a new Docker image from a recipe called a “Dockerfile.” It’s like building a toy from instructions!
docker build -t *your_image_name* .Replace “your_image_name” with the name you want to give your new image. The dot (.) at the end tells Docker to use the current directory as the build location.
- docker images: This command shows you a list of all the Docker images you have on your computer, like seeing all the toys you own!
docker imagesWorking With Containers
Now let’s learn some commands to work with containers:
- docker run: This command starts a new container from one of your Docker images. You can think of it like inviting a friend to play!
docker run -t -i *your_image_name*Replace “your_image_name” with the name of the image you want to use. The -t and -i flags tell Docker to give your container a virtual terminal and keep it interactive, like playing a game where you can see what’s happening inside!
- docker start: This command starts a container that is already stopped, like waking up a sleeping friend.
docker start *container_id*Replace “container_id” with the ID of the container you want to start.
- docker stop: This command stops a running container, like telling your friend it’s time for a nap.
docker stop *container_id*Replace “container_id” with the ID of the container you want to stop.
Commands I use most
For a list of most common commands I use: please visit: Docker commands I use the most
Summary
Now you know some of the most important Docker commands for kids! You can build images, run containers, and manage your Docker world more easily. Keep exploring and have fun learning about Docker