docker

name	docker
description	Docker on Mac with OrbStack. Containers, Dockerfiles, images, Compose, BuildKit, volumes, networking. Use when working with Dockerfiles, compose.yaml, docker/docker compose/buildx commands, or containerizing any service.

Docker

Mac-first via OrbStack. CLI is 100% Docker-compatible — commands here apply to Docker Desktop too unless marked [OrbStack].

Quick start

# Verify
docker version && docker compose version && docker buildx version

# Run
docker run -d -p 8080:80 nginx
docker ps

# Build
docker build -t app:dev .
docker compose up -d --build

Routing

Setup & platform

• orbstack-mac.md — OrbStack install, domains (*.orb.local), HTTPS, Rosetta for amd64, contexts, migrating from Docker Desktop
• cli-cheatsheet.md — flat command reference

Containers

• containers-basics.md — run, exec, logs, ps, stop, rm, overriding CMD/ENTRYPOINT, resource limits
• ports-and-networking.md — -p, published vs exposed ports, user-defined bridge networks, DNS between containers

Images

• images-and-tagging.md — build, tag structure, push, registries
• dockerfile-writing.md — instructions, base image selection, .dockerignore, layer ordering
• multi-stage-builds.md — build/runtime separation, --target, COPY --from

Build performance

• build-cache.md — invalidation rules, cache mounts, registry/inline/GHA backends
• buildkit-and-buildx.md — drivers, buildkitd.toml, multi-platform, buildx bake
• build-exporters.md — --output local/tar for CI artifacts, OCI layouts

Storage

• volumes-and-mounts.md — named volumes vs bind mounts vs tmpfs, --mount syntax, pre-seeding

Compose

• compose-basics.md — compose.yaml shape, up/down/logs, build context, project naming
• compose-watch.md — live reload via develop.watch (sync / rebuild / sync+restart)
• compose-dependencies.md — depends_on with condition: service_healthy + healthchecks
• compose-profiles.md — optional services via profiles
• compose-secrets-env.md — secrets, env vars, precedence, _FILE convention
• compose-gpu.md — deploy.resources.reservations.devices for NVIDIA
• compose-production.md — overrides, restart policies, resource caps, logging

Language patterns

• language-guides.md — Bun, Python (uv), Rust

Core principles

• Build context is everything copied to the daemon. Keep it small with .dockerignore.
• Order Dockerfile from least to most frequently changing. Deps before source.
• One concern per container. Compose for multi-service.
• Named volumes for data, bind mounts for code in dev.
• On Mac, prefer OrbStack. Faster, less RAM, free Rosetta for amd64 images.

Version pinning

This skill targets: Docker Engine ≥28, Compose ≥2.30, Buildx ≥0.24, BuildKit ≥0.18. compose.yaml (no version: field) is current — legacy docker-compose.yml still works.