Forcing a Clean Build of an Image

Before proceeding, ensure you have Docker installed on your system. If not, refer to the Docker official installation guide for instructions tailored to your operating system.

Locate Your Dockerfile

The Dockerfile is the script that Docker uses to build your image. It is usually located at the root of your project directory. Navigate to the directory that contains the Dockerfile in your terminal.

Start a Clean Build

Docker build uses cache by default to speed up image building process. However, we can disable cache usage by providing --no-cache option in Docker build command.

The general syntax is as follows:

docker build --no-cache -t your-image-name .

Here's what each part of this command does:

• docker build: This is the command that tells Docker to start building an image.
• --no-cache: This is an option that tells Docker not to use the cache when building the image. This ensures a clean build.
• -t your-image-name: This specifies the name you want to assign to the built image. Replace your-image-name with the name you want to use.
• .: This tells Docker that the Dockerfile is located in the current directory.

Execute the Command

Now that you know what the command is, go ahead and run it in your terminal. Ensure you are in the directory where your Dockerfile resides.

Here's an example command:

docker build --no-cache -t my-app .

This command will start the clean build of your Docker image. Depending on the complexity of your Dockerfile and your system's performance, this could take a few minutes.

During the build process, Docker will print out each step it's executing on the console. If there are any errors, they will be displayed here.

Once the build process is complete, Docker will notify you that the build was successful and your image will be ready to use.

Verify the Image

After building the image, you can verify it by listing all images on your system. Use the docker images command:

docker images

In the output, you should see your newly built image. Now you can use this image to create new Docker containers.