How to Use Docker with Python in Just 10 Minutes

Sometimes you just want to dip your toe into a potentially deep and complex subject. Maybe you only have 10 minutes to spare and you want to get something up and running quickly.

In just 10 minutes, you will be able to say: ‘Oh yes, I’ve used Docker with Python’.

This is as simple as going to: https://www.docker.com/get-started, downloading, and running the installer for your system.

Open up a terminal window and create a folder for your project:

$ mkdir hello-world
$ cd hello-world

In your favorite editor create two files (app.py & Dockerfile) in this folder:

and

Now in the terminal type:

$ docker image build -t hello-world .

This will use the Dockerfile to create an image tagged

-t

with a repository name of

hello-world

using the current working directory

.

. The new image is based on the official python:3.8-slim-buster image, has its working directory set to

/usr/src/app

, has both files copied into this directory, and its default executable set to ‘python app.py’.

Now, all we need to do is run the image:

$ docker run hello-world

Which should give an output:

Hello World

Congratulations you have just used Docker with Python!