Question 1

How to run a Docker container with dockerode?

Accepted Answer

Use the docker.run() method, which works like Docker CLI. For example, docker.run('ubuntu', ['bash', '-c', 'uname -a'], process.stdout, callback) executes a command and streams output. You can add options for container creation and startup, similar to docker run flags.

Question 2

Dockerode vs Docker SDK for Node.js – which is better?

Accepted Answer

Dockerode is community-driven with a focus on full API coverage and stream handling, while Docker SDK is official but may have different update cycles. Dockerode offers more low-level control and helper functions like demuxStream, but Docker SDK might be preferred for tighter Docker ecosystem integration.

Question 3

How to build a Docker image using dockerode?

Accepted Answer

Use docker.buildImage() with a tar archive or context directory. You must handle the returned stream and use followProgress to monitor completion. For instance, specify context and src files, then call docker.modem.followProgress(stream, callback) to track the build process.

Question 4

How to handle stdin and stdout streams in dockerode?

Accepted Answer

Dockerode supports stream demultiplexing with demuxStream for separating stdout and stderr. For advanced use, enable hijacked connections with options like hijack: true in exec.start() for clean stdin/stdout handling, as shown in the README examples.

Question 5

Is dockerode compatible with Docker Swarm?

Accepted Answer

Yes, dockerode supports Docker Swarm through methods like docker.swarmInit(), docker.swarmJoin(), and service management endpoints. The documentation lists operations for services, tasks, and nodes, making it suitable for swarm-based orchestration.

Question 6

How to authenticate with a private Docker registry in dockerode?

Accepted Answer

Pass an auth object in options for pull or push operations. It can include username, password, email, and serveraddress, or a base64 encoded string. Dockerode handles encoding via docker-modem, simplifying authentication as described in the pull examples.

Question 7

What are common use cases for dockerode in production?

Accepted Answer

Dockerode is ideal for building CI/CD pipelines, automation scripts, custom orchestration tools, and monitoring dashboards. Its programmatic control over containers, images, and networks enables scalable Docker-based infrastructure management in Node.js applications.

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