Software
Engineer
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Intermediate·10 lessons·108 min

Docker in Practice

The working engineer’s Docker: multi-stage builds, BuildKit cache and secret mounts, multi-platform images, Bake, the Compose features a real project needs, lifecycle done properly, and build cache that survives CI.

Written and verified against
Docker Engine
29.7.2
Docker Compose
v5.5.0
Buildx
v0.36.1
BuildKit
v0.32.2
Dockerfile frontend
1.26.0
Docker Desktop
4.88.1

Checked 28 August 2026. Official docs: docs.docker.com ↗

Start — Multi-Stage Builds
  1. 01Multi-Stage BuildsStop shipping the compiler. One keyword, two orders of magnitude. 10 min
  2. 02BuildKit and MountsThe syntax line, heredocs, and cache mounts that never enter the image. 11 min
  3. 03Secrets and ConfigurationEvery way a credential ends up in a layer, and the one way it does not. 11 min
  4. 04Multi-Platform ImagesOne tag for ARM and x86 — emulation, cross-compilation, or native nodes. 11 min
  5. 05Docker BakeDeclarative builds, and the builder Compose v5 now delegates to. 10 min
  6. 06Compose for Real ApplicationsOverrides, profiles, include, and init containers that replace entrypoint scripts. 10 min
  7. 07Compose WatchA development loop without rebuilds, and why it beats a bind mount. 11 min
  8. 08Healthchecks and SignalsStarting, stopping, and failing on purpose — including the ten-second stop. 11 min
  9. 09Build Cache Across MachinesMaking CI as fast as your laptop, and the flag everyone forgets. 11 min
  10. 10Small Images on PurposeMeasure first, then the moves that matter — and when to stop. 12 min