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How can I prevent Docker from removing intermediate containers when executing RUN command?

The error I'm experiencing is that I want to execute the command "change directory" in my Docker machine, but every time I execute RUN instruction in my Dockerfile, it deletes the actual container (intermediate container).

DOCKERFILE

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This happens when I execute the Dockerfile from above

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How can I prevent Docker from doing that?

Solution

  • The current paths are different for Dockerfile and RUN (inside container).

    Each RUN command starts from the Dockerfile path (e. g. '/').

    When you do RUN cd /app, the "inside path" changes, but not the "Dockerfile path". The next RUN command will again be run at '/'.

    To change the "Dockerfile path", use WORKDIR (see reference), for example WORKDIR /opt/firefox.

    The alternative would be chaining the executed RUN commands, as EvgeniySharapov pointed out: RUN cd opt; ls; cd firefox; ls

    on multiple lines:

    RUN cd opt; \
    ls; \
    cd firefox; \
    ls

    (To clarify: It doesn't matter that Docker removes intermediate containers, that is not the problem in this case.)