from Dockerfail to Dockerfile, the book

Avoid failing at containers where everyone else did

🐳 Ten years after, Docker is now the #1 Most-Used Developer Tool, according to StackOverflow Survey 2023.

🙀 But good practices are scattered everywhere, some are incomplete, and others obsolete.

🚀 That’s why I built the Clean Container framework: a simple 3-step system for lightweight fast unbreakable containers.

📘All in a 2-hour no-BS book for DevOps teams, Platform engineers and Fullstack developers!

Don’t take my word for it, get first Chapter for free

The book is logically organized from start to end, but each chapter is decoupled for reader convenience. You can jump into a specific one, as it’s focused on a single topic. Final note, there is some code, but this is not a copy-paste PDF with quick snippets. This guide lays immutable principles that will still be valid in a decade, while their implementation may vary in next releases.

How To Get The Book

While the book is still in beta, you have three options:

1. wait for the stable version
2. join as a beta reader, read below
3. buy now and get all future versions forever

BETA Program: Interested in giving your feedback as a beta reader? You could win a free copy if selected. Please apply on the form

The book is available as a digital download on this page.

Or as a classic PDF

Every purchase grants you lifetime upgrades for future editions.

Translations

If you are interested in helping translate the book into a language, then please contact me.

What to expect

Let’s look at what each part covers.

Part 0, all starts at zero, let’s reset bad habits

• Chapter — Docker wont fix your processes, culture or tech debt
• Chapter — even Docker enthusiasts don’t use containers in these situations
• Chapter — crash course on Docker do’s and don’ts for the hurry developer

Part 1 “Make it clean”, how to build without doubt

• Chapter — write the perfect Dockerfile every time
• Chapter — test that “what you build is only what you want” with container
• Chapter — don’t let the build slow the flow, optimize for layers caching

Part 2 “Make it lean”, the habits of shipping without uncertainty

• Chapter — smart troubleshoot environments with multi stages
• Chapter — optimize secrets detection and keep them out
• Chapter — avoid the dreaded drift by combining tags and SBOM

Part 3 “Make it clear”, launching without fear

• Chapter — learn how naive healthchecks cause downtime, and how to fix them
• Chapter — leverage labels to anticipate any troubleshooting in production
• Chapter — craft a compose.yaml that’s already fit for HA, scaling, and resiliency
• Chapter — take automated continuous scanning and signing to another level

About the author

Obsessed with developer experience, as an original backend developer myself since 1999, I got to experience all stages of software building from product design to production maintenance, up to managing DevOps teams in startups as well major companies, in 3 different continents.

Writing this book is my way to reach a maximum container practictionners in a focused format, in addition to speaking, training and consulting.

Disclaimer: I am not affiliated, or employed by Docker Inc.

Resources

Upcoming resources completing the book

• the most complete Dockerfile, with comments and examples
• the most complete compose.yaml, with comments and variations
• the most secure deployment script
• real life example: dockerizing a 3-tier app from scratch