This is a partial guide to creating artifacts using Docker.

To a first approximation, a Docker container is a lightweight virtual machine that only virtualizes userspace; its OS is the host OS. But it contains its own separate filesystem, its own separate process table, its own network ports, etc. In practice, Docker containers are usually specialized to run one (or at most a few) primary applications rather than being a general-purpose platform that can run any sort of application.

A Docker image is a recipe for initializing a container. It describes the initial contents of the filesystem and a command to run when the container is created (for example, a shell or server). Images are built in reusable layers. For example, an image for an Apache web server might be built with a base (minimal) Linux userspace layer, then a layer containing the Apache software. An image for a Cassandra database server might share the same base Linux userspace layer, then have a layer with the Java JDK, then another layer with the Cassandra software (scripts and jar files).

To build your own image, you should start with a suitable image and then add a layer containing your specific content. You must write a Dockerfile that specifies the starting image and the content to add.

General resources:

• Docker: Get Started

• Docker: Manage data in Docker (Storage Overview)

• Creating a docker image for your application

• Docker Build: A beginner's buide to building Docker images

• Docker for beginners -- Not especially helpful, except maybe commands.

• https://docs.docker.com/develop/develop-images/dockerfile_best-practices/

• https://www.techrepublic.com/article/how-to-create-your-own-docker-image/

• https://docs.docker.com/develop/develop-images/baseimages/

docker build -t artifact .

docker run --rm -it artifact
docker run --rm -it -v artifact-shared:/app/shared artifact

docker volume inspect artifact-shared  # shows Mountpoint on host filesystem
docker volume ls
docker volume rm artifact-shared

docker ps -a
docker container prune

docker image ls
docker inspect artifact

docker image save -o artifact.tar artifact
docker image load -i artifact.tar