Dockerize Python Apps

Homayoun
2 min readOct 7, 2022

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Docker enables developers to pack applications into containers that run as instances of a docker image and contain their own operating system as well as all the necessary dependencies. This makes it easier, simpler and safer to build, deploy and manage your apps.

docker compose

docker compose enables running & management of a multi-container application in a simple way using the YAML file (docker-compose.yml) defining all the required services.

For out example we will use 2 services:

  • django application
  • postgres database

basic project setup

.env

setting.py

requirements.txt

In the dockerfile we will use the requirements.txt file to install all the necessary packages.

Before dockerizing, make sure you have the following packages installed:

Next create the requirements.txt file:

pip freeze>requirements.txt

Dockerfile

Dockerfile for our python/django app:

docker-compose.yml

The docker-compose file including two services:

web(django web app) and db (postgres db)

Commands to execute

Now run the containers:

docker-compose up -d

Stop the containers:

docker-compose down

View the logs of a container:

docker-compose logs <service_name>

List the running containers:

docker ps

Get inside the web container to execute other commands (i.e. createsuperuser)

docker exec -it <container_id> /bin/sh

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Homayoun

Software Engineer | Python Developer & Bug Hunting Enthusiast