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Dockerfile for a Node.js application

Dockerfile for a Node.js application

Create a Dockerfile for a Node.js app: Set up your environment, install dependencies, and containerize your Node.js app for smooth deployment.

dockerdockerfiledevopscontainersnodejs
Megha Sharma
Published Sep 25, 2024
you can use any text editor of your choice. Below is an example of how to create a simple Dockerfile using the nano text editor:
  1. Open a terminal.
  2. Navigate to the directory where you want to create the Dockerfile.
  3. Type nano Dockerfile and press Enter. This will open the nano text editor with a new file named Dockerfile.
  4. Enter the Dockerfile contents according to your requirements.
  5. Once you’re done editing, press Ctrl + X to exit nano. It will prompt you to save the changes. Press Y to confirm saving, and then press Enter to save the file with the name Dockerfile.
Here’s an example of a simple Dockerfile for a Node.js application:
This Dockerfile:
  • Uses the official Node.js Docker image with version 14 based on Alpine Linux for a smaller image size.
  • Sets the working directory inside the container to /usr/src/app.
  • Copies package.json and package-lock.json files from the host to the container.
  • We run npm install to install dependencies defined in package.json.
  • Copies the rest of the application source code from the host to the container.
  • Exposes port 3000 to allow communication with the container.
  • Sets an environment variable NODE_ENV to "production".
  • Specifies that the command to run when the container starts is node app.js.
After creating the Dockerfile, you can build a Docker image using the docker build command.
Replace my-node-app with the desired name for your Docker image.
After building the image, you can run a container from it using:
This command runs a container based on your Docker image, forwarding port 3000 from the container to port 3000 on your host machine. Adjust the port mapping as needed based on your application’s requirements.
 

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