Since some of my students are always struggling with working with docker or create a docker file to run machine learning projects, I am going to write this post to learn you how you can create a simple Docker file step by step.

Choose the initial Docker image

First, Download the Docker application. Then you need to understand the differences between the types of Docker images so that you choose the right one for your application or script. The difference between docker images is the underlying operating system. You can always change the image in your Dockerfile and rebuild your images. I recommend Images tagged with buster for Mac or Linux operating system. You can check this website to get familiar with different initial docker images.

Make a Docker file on Vscode

Make a new project at the determined address and make a file with the name of Dockerfile. Since you make it, the logo of the file will be changed to the Docker logo.

Now you should write this command to create the initial Docker image.

From python:3.7.6-buster

RUN apt-get update

RUN pip install --upgrade pip

RUN pip install pandas flask sklearn interpret

It's optional to get the apt-get update and install the initial python packages.

Another important thing you should consider when you want to make a Docker image is mounting the place your files are into the image.

WORKDIR /Files_location

Then you can save the file. Here is an example of one of my docker files for one project.

After saving the docker file you should write this command at the terminal to run a docker image named yourimagename:1 at the current location.

Docker build --tag yourimagename:1 .

To make sure that your image is built or not, you can use "Docker image list" to see the list of docker images.

$ Docker image list

Create the Docker container

After building an image with the name of “yourimagename:1” we can build and run the container.

Start your container using the docker run command and specify the name of the image we just created.

$ docker run [OPTIONS] IMAGE[:TAG|@DIGEST] [COMMAND] [ARG...]

The above command is the pattern to build a docker image. The following code is an example I used for run "nrc:1" image.

docker run --rm -it --volume "$(PWD)":"/maryam/" -p 8050:8050 nrc:1 Let's narrow it down.

--rm -it The -it runs Docker interactively (so you get a pseudo-TTY with STDIN). The --rm causes Docker to automatically remove the container when it exits.

--volume $(PWD)

it returnrs the current location "$(PWD)":"/maryam/" the current location will be mounted to a volume named "maryam" on the container of the docker.

-p It defines the available port to run the image. It's mostly used for web applications or using Jupitor. nrc:1 the name of the docker image.

By running the docker image you will go to that image with the specific directory you mounted. Now you can make as many files as your project needs and run your code on the docker environment.

# Docker

RRun a Project on Docker