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Docker Guide: Dockerizing Nodejs Express Application on Ubuntu 18.04
Docker Guide: Dockerizing Nodejs Express Application on Ubuntu 18.04
Docker is an open-source project that provides an open platform for developers and sysadmins to build, package, and run applications anywhere as a lightweight container. Docker automates the deployment of applications inside software containers.
Nodejs is an open source JavaScript run-time environment. It’s multi-platform run-time, can be installed on Linux, Windows, MacOS, FreeBSD, etc. Nodejs is very useful for building both server and desktop applications.eval(ez_write_tag([[580,400],’howtoforge_com-medrectangle-3′,’ezslot_2′,121,’0′,’0′]));
In this tutorial, I will show you how to create a docker image for an existing Nodejs Express application project in Ubuntu 18.04. We will learn about dockerizing a Nodejs application, and then deploy the application as a container to the docker environment using a docker-compose script.
Prerequisites
- Ubuntu 18.04
- Root privileges
What we will do
- Install Docker CE
- Install Docker-Compose
- Setup Nodejs Express Project
- Build the Project
- Testing
Step 1 – Install Docker CE
In this tutorial, we will install docker-ce community edition from the docker repository. We will install docker-ce community edition and docker-compose that supports compose file version 3.
Before installing docker-ce, install docker dependencies needed using the apt command.
sudo apt install -y \
apt-transport-https \
ca-certificates \
curl \
software-properties-commonNow add the docker key and repository by running commands below.
curl -fsSL https://download.docker.com/linux/ubuntu/gpg | sudo apt-key add -
sudo add-apt-repository \
"deb [arch=amd64] https://download.docker.com/linux/ubuntu \
$(lsb_release -cs) \
stable"
Install the docker-ce package.
sudo apt install docker-ceAfter the installation is complete, start the docker service and enable it to launch every time at system boot.
systemctl start docker
systemctl enable dockereval(ez_write_tag([[580,400],’howtoforge_com-medrectangle-4′,’ezslot_1′,108,’0′,’0′]));
Next, we will give the normal user privileges to run and manage docker container.
Add a new user named ‘mohammad’ and add it to the docker group.
useradd -m -s /bin/bash mohammad
usermod -a -G docker mohammadNow login as the ‘mohammad’ user and run docker container hello-world.
su - mohammad
docker run hello-worldAnd you will get the result as shown below.
Step 2 – Install Docker-Compose
In this step, we will install docker-compose manually from the binary file that can be downloaded from GitHub. We will install the latest docker-compose version that will support the compose v3.
Download the latest 1.22.0 version of docker-compose using curl command to the ‘/usr/local/bin’ directory, and then make it executable using chmod.
Run commands below.
sudo curl -L https://github.com/docker/compose/releases/download/1.22.0/docker-compose-$(uname -s)-$(uname -m) -o /usr/local/bin/docker-compose
sudo chmod +x /usr/local/bin/docker-composeAnd the latest docker-compose version has been installed, check by running the docker-compose command below.
docker-compose versionFollowing is the result.
Step 3 – Setup Nodejs Express Project
In this section, we will configure the Nodejs application environment. We will be using simple nodejs application that can be generated using the ‘express-generator’.
Login to the ‘mohammad’ user.
su - mohammadCreate a new directory named ‘project’ and go to it.
mkdir -p project
cd projectNow generate a simple hello-word nodejs application using the ‘express’ command below.
express hakase-appNote:
Make sure nodejs, npm, and the ‘express-generator’ packages have been installed on the system.
And you will get the simple nodejs express app on the ‘hakase-app’ directory.
Next, we will build our custom docker image for the ‘hakase-app’ nodejs application.
Under the ‘project’ directory, create a new ‘Dockerfile’ using vim.
vim DockerfilePaste the following docker image configuration there.
FROM node:8.11.4-alpine RUN mkdir -p /src RUN npm install express-generator -g WORKDIR /src ADD hakase-app/package.json /src/package.json RUN npm install EXPOSE 3000 CMD node hakase-app/bin/www
Save and exit.
We’re creating a new custom docker image for our nodejs application with specifications below.
- The custom image is based on the official nodejs image 8.11.4 alpine version.
- We’re creating a new directory for our project ‘/src’.
- Install the ‘express-generator’ to the custom image.
- Add the ‘package.json’ file that contains application profile and packages needed to the ‘/src’ directory.
- Install all nodejs packages needed for the project, based on the ‘package.json’ file.
- Export the port 3000 with default exec start command ‘node hakase-app/bin/www’.
Next, we will build out the custom image based on the docker-compose script.
Create a new yml file ‘docker-compose.yml’ using vim.
vim docker-compose.ymlPaste the following configuration there.
version: '3'
services:
hakase-app:
build: .
volumes:
- ./hakase-app:/src/hakase-app
ports:
- "3000:3000"
restart: always
Save and exit.
We’re creating a new docker service named ‘hakase-app’, and in the same time we’re building the custom docker image based on the ‘Dockerfile’ on the project directory and will mount automatically the hakase-app application files.
The Nodejs Express Setup has been completed.
Step 4 – Build and Run the Project
Login as the ‘mohammad’ user and go to the ‘project’ directory
su - mohammad
cd project/Build the image and create the docker service hakase-app using the docker-compose command below.
docker-compose buildNow you will get the result as shown below.
And when its complete, run the ‘hakase-app’ docker service.
docker-compose up -dFollowing is the result.
The custom docker image for our Nodejs application has been created, and the hakase-app docker service is up and running.
Step 5 – Testing
Show available docker image on the server.
docker-compose images
docker images
A new custom docker image for our Nodejs application has been created.
Show the running docker service.
docker-compose ps
docker ps
The Nodejs app is up and running on the host port 3000.
Open the web browser and type the server IP address with the port.
http://10.0.15.2:3000/
And you will get the simple express page.
Dockerizing Nodejs Express application on Ubuntu 18.04 has been completed successfully.
Reference
- https://nodejs.org/en/docs/guides/nodejs-docker-webapp/
- https://expressjs.com/en/starter/hello-world.html
