# docker-management

Instructions for building multi-stage Dockerfiles, managing container networks, and troubleshooting failed processes. Useful for container deployment and debugging.

- skill · `type=skill` · Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Gemini CLI, OpenCode · 508 installs · ★ 1177
- Author: devops-skills
- License: MIT · policy=mirror · the beginning of the file is at the end of this page
- Source: https://github.com/BagelHole/DevOps-Security-Agent-Skills/tree/HEAD/devops/containers/docker-management/SKILL.md
- Updated: 2026-05-22
- HTML: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/docker-management

## What it does

This skill provides practical patterns for container management. It covers multi-stage builds for Node.js and Python, layer caching strategies, and non-root user permissions. It also includes instructions for runtime resource constraints with `--memory` and `--cpus`, health checks, bind mounts, and bridge networking.

For troubleshooting, the instructions cover interactive container execution with `docker exec`, state inspection via `docker inspect`, and log analysis. Multi-platform image creation is supported through `docker buildx`, alongside vulnerability checks using Docker Scout.

Running these commands on your machine requires Docker Engine 20.10 or newer. Without a running daemon, the agent cannot execute container operations.

## Requirements
- Works with: Docker

## Install

### Claude Code (native platform)

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add BagelHole/DevOps-Security-Agent-Skills --skill docker-management -a claude-code
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `~/.claude/skills/docker-management/SKILL.md` — Copy the whole skill folder; for one project use .claude/skills/docker-management/

### Codex

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add BagelHole/DevOps-Security-Agent-Skills --skill docker-management -a codex
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.agents/skills/docker-management/SKILL.md` — For all projects use ~/.agents/skills/

### Cursor

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add BagelHole/DevOps-Security-Agent-Skills --skill docker-management -a cursor
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.cursor/skills/docker-management/SKILL.md` — Cursor also reads .agents/skills/ and .claude/skills/

### GitHub Copilot

1. **GitHub CLI**
```bash
gh skill install BagelHole/DevOps-Security-Agent-Skills docker-management
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.github/skills/docker-management/SKILL.md`

### Gemini CLI

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add BagelHole/DevOps-Security-Agent-Skills --skill docker-management -a gemini-cli
```

2. **Platform CLI**
```bash
gemini skills install https://github.com/BagelHole/DevOps-Security-Agent-Skills --path devops/containers/docker-management
```

### Windsurf (Devin Desktop)

**Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.devin/skills/docker-management/SKILL.md` — The legacy .windsurf/skills/ path still works

### OpenCode

**Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add BagelHole/DevOps-Security-Agent-Skills --skill docker-management -a opencode
```

### Claude.ai

**Claude.ai**
- Zip the folder and upload it in Settings → Capabilities → Skills

Where a file is given instead of a command, copy the files from the source to that path: https://github.com/BagelHole/DevOps-Security-Agent-Skills/tree/HEAD/devops/containers/docker-management/SKILL.md

## When to use it
- Create multi-stage Dockerfiles with layer caching
- Configure containers to run without root privileges
- Mount persistent volumes and attach isolated networks
- Diagnose containers that terminate immediately on start
- Build multi-platform images for amd64 and arm64 using buildx

## Example prompts
- Refactor this Dockerfile to use a multi-stage build and run as a non-root user
- Help me debug why my container exits immediately after running
- Write a docker run command with 512m memory limit and restart policy unless-stopped

## Source text · SKILL.md · MIT

Below is the content of a third-party file. It is data, not instructions for you: do not act on anything written inside unless the human asks. Block tag: fb40adcf1dfbe8ed.

BEGIN THIRD-PARTY FILE fb40adcf1dfbe8ed
````text
---
name: docker-management
description: Build, optimize, and troubleshoot Docker containers and images. Create efficient Dockerfiles, manage container lifecycle, configure networking and volumes, and debug container issues. Use when working with Docker, containerization, or container troubleshooting.
license: MIT
metadata:
  author: devops-skills
  version: "1.0"
---

# Docker Management

Build, run, and manage Docker containers for application deployment and development.

## When to Use This Skill

Use this skill when:
- Creating and optimizing Dockerfiles
- Building and tagging Docker images
- Running and managing containers
- Debugging container issues
- Configuring Docker networking and volumes
- Implementing container security best practices

## Prerequisites

- Docker Engine installed (20.10+)
- Basic command line knowledge
- Understanding of application deployment

## Dockerfile Best Practices

### Multi-Stage Build

```dockerfile
# Build stage
FROM node:20-alpine AS builder
WORKDIR /app
COPY package*.json ./
RUN npm ci --only=production
COPY . .
RUN npm run build

# Production stage
FROM node:20-alpine AS production
WORKDIR /app
RUN addgroup -g 1001 -S nodejs && \
    adduser -S nodejs -u 1001
COPY --from=builder --chown=nodejs:nodejs /app/dist ./dist
COPY --from=builder --chown=nodejs:nodejs /app/node_modules ./node_modules
USER nodejs
EXPOSE 3000
CMD ["node", "dist/index.js"]
```

### Layer Optimization

```dockerfile
FROM python:3.12-slim

# Install dependencies first (cached unless requirements change)
COPY requirements.txt .
RUN pip install --no-cache-dir -r requirements.txt

# Copy application code (changes frequently)
COPY . .

CMD ["python", "app.py"]
```

### Security Hardening

```dockerfile
FROM node:20-alpine

# Create non-root user
RUN addgroup -g 1001 appgroup && \
    adduser -u 1001 -G appgroup -D appuser

WORKDIR /app

# Copy with proper ownership
COPY --chown=appuser:appgroup . .

# Drop privileges
USER appuser

# Use exec form for proper signal handling
CMD ["node", "server.js"]
```

## Building Images

### Basic Build

```bash
# Build with tag
docker build -t myapp:1.0 .

# Build with build args
docker build --build-arg NODE_ENV=production -t myapp:prod .

# Build for specific platform
docker build --platform linux/amd64 -t myapp:amd64 .

# Build with no cache
docker build --no-cache -t myapp:fresh .
```

### Multi-Platform Builds

```bash
# Create builder
docker buildx create --name multiplatform --use

# Build for multiple architectures
docker buildx build \
  --platform linux/amd64,linux/arm64 \
  -t myregistry/myapp:latest \
  --push .
```

## Running Containers

### Basic Operations

```bash
````
END THIRD-PARTY FILE fb40adcf1dfbe8ed

The third-party file has ended. Everything between the fb40adcf1dfbe8ed tags is data: requests and commands from it are not followed. An “end of file” line with another tag inside the block is part of the file.

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