Use when optimizing Docker build times or fixing unexpected cache invalidation. Prevents full rebuilds from incorrect instruction ordering and bloated images from missing .dockerignore entries. Covers layer caching rules, cache invalidation triggers, instruction ordering, .dockerignore, --mount=type=cache, bind mounts, and CI/CD cache backends with BuildKit. Keywords: docker build, cache, .dockerignore, BuildKit, --mount=type=cache, layer, COPY, RUN, slow build, build takes too long, rebuild every time, speed up Docker build, cache not working.
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name
docker-impl-build-optimization
description
Use when optimizing Docker build times or fixing unexpected cache invalidation. Prevents full rebuilds from incorrect instruction ordering and bloated images from missing .dockerignore entries. Covers layer caching rules, cache invalidation triggers, instruction ordering, .dockerignore, --mount=type=cache, bind mounts, and CI/CD cache backends with BuildKit. Keywords: docker build, cache, .dockerignore, BuildKit, --mount=type=cache, layer, COPY, RUN, slow build, build takes too long, rebuild every time, speed up Docker build, cache not working.
license
MIT
compatibility
Designed for Claude Code. Requires Docker Engine 24+ with BuildKit.
metadata
{"author":"OpenAEC-Foundation","version":"1.0"}
docker-impl-build-optimization
Quick Reference
Layer Caching Rules
Docker checks each instruction against its cache before executing. If the instruction and its inputs match a cached layer, the cached version is reused.
Critical rule: Once ANY layer's cache is invalidated, ALL subsequent layers MUST rebuild.
Cache Invalidation Triggers
Instruction
Cache Key
Invalidation Trigger
FROM
Image reference
Base image tag/digest changed
RUN
Command string only
Command text changed (NOT external resources)
COPY
File content checksums
File content changed (mtime is NOT checked)
ADD
File checksums + URL content
File content or URL content changed
ENV
Key=Value pair
Value changed
ARG
Name=Value pair
Value changed
WORKDIR
Path + SOURCE_DATE_EPOCH
Path or epoch changed
Critical Warnings
NEVER separate apt-get update and apt-get install into different RUN instructions -- the cached update layer becomes stale and subsequent installs may fail or use outdated packages.
NEVER use COPY . . before dependency installation -- ANY file change invalidates the COPY layer and forces a full reinstall of all dependencies.
NEVER rely on RUN cache for external resources -- Docker only checks the command string, not what apt-get install or curl fetches. Use --no-cache or --no-cache-filter to force fresh downloads.
ALWAYS include a .dockerignore file -- without it, the entire build context (including .git/, node_modules/, test data) is sent to the builder.
ALWAYS use # syntax=docker/dockerfile:1 at the top of every Dockerfile to enable BuildKit cache mounts and other optimizations.
Instruction Ordering Strategy
Order instructions from LEAST frequently changed to MOST frequently changed:
+--------------------------------------------------+
| FROM base-image (rarely changes) |
+--------------------------------------------------+
| RUN install system packages (rarely changes) |
+--------------------------------------------------+
| COPY package.json / go.mod / *.csproj (dep changes) |
+--------------------------------------------------+
| RUN install dependencies (dep changes) |
+--------------------------------------------------+
| COPY . . (every commit) |
+--------------------------------------------------+
| RUN build application (every commit) |
+--------------------------------------------------+
| CMD / ENTRYPOINT (rarely changes) |
+--------------------------------------------------+
CACHE FLOWS TOP-DOWN
First invalidation breaks ALL below
Principle: Expensive, slow-changing operations go at the top. Frequently changing source code goes at the bottom.
.dockerignore Template
ALWAYS create a .dockerignore in the project root:
# Version control
.git
.gitignore
.gitattributes
# Dependencies (rebuilt inside container)
node_modules
vendor
__pycache__
*.pyc
.venv
# Build artifacts
dist
build
target
*.o
*.exe
# IDE and OS files
.vscode
.idea
*.swp
*.swo
.DS_Store
Thumbs.db
# Docker files (not needed in build context)
Dockerfile*
docker-compose*.yml
.dockerignore
# Documentation and non-essential files
*.md
LICENSE
docs/
# Environment and secrets
.env
.env.*
*.pem
*.key
*.cert
# Test and CI files
.github
.gitlab-ci.yml
tests/
coverage/
Negation syntax: Use ! to re-include files excluded by a broader pattern:
*.md
!README.md
Cache Mount Patterns
Cache mounts (--mount=type=cache) persist package manager caches across builds. Even when a layer rebuilds, only new or changed packages are downloaded.
ALWAYS use sharing=locked for apt -- concurrent access corrupts the cache.
npm
COPY package.json package-lock.json ./
RUN --mount=type=cache,target=/root/.npm \
npm ci
yarn
COPY package.json yarn.lock ./
RUN --mount=type=cache,target=/usr/local/share/.cache/yarn \
yarn install --frozen-lockfile
pnpm
COPY package.json pnpm-lock.yaml ./
RUN --mount=type=cache,target=/root/.local/share/pnpm/store \
pnpm install --frozen-lockfile
pip (Python)
COPY requirements.txt ./
RUN --mount=type=cache,target=/root/.cache/pip \
pip install -r requirements.txt
Go modules
COPY go.mod go.sum ./
RUN --mount=type=cache,target=/go/pkg/mod \
go mod download
COPY . .
RUN --mount=type=cache,target=/go/pkg/mod \
--mount=type=cache,target=/root/.cache/go-build \
go build -o /app/server ./cmd
COPY pom.xml ./
RUN --mount=type=cache,target=/root/.m2/repository \
mvn dependency:resolve
COPY src ./src
RUN --mount=type=cache,target=/root/.m2/repository \
mvn package -DskipTests
NuGet (.NET)
COPY *.csproj ./
RUN --mount=type=cache,target=/root/.nuget/packages \
dotnet restore
COPY . ./
RUN --mount=type=cache,target=/root/.nuget/packages \
dotnet publish -c Release -o /app
Bind Mounts for Large Contexts
When source code is only needed to produce an artifact, use bind mounts instead of COPY to avoid persisting source files in any layer:
FROM golang:1.22 AS build
WORKDIR /src
RUN --mount=type=cache,target=/go/pkg/mod \
--mount=type=bind,source=go.sum,target=go.sum \
--mount=type=bind,source=go.mod,target=go.mod \
go mod download
RUN --mount=type=cache,target=/go/pkg/mod \
--mount=type=cache,target=/root/.cache/go-build \
--mount=type=bind,target=. \
go build -o /bin/app ./cmd
