Dockerizing your project
Multi-stage Dockerfiles for each service, with a slim base image, a non-root user and a proper .dockerignore file.
DevOps
Docker services: containerizing and deploying your applications
If your application works on a developer laptop and fails on the server, the environments have drifted apart. Our Docker services package the app and its dependencies into small, repeatable images, then run them on your servers with Docker Compose, health checks and sensible resource limits.
Tools & technology
docker
- Docker
- Docker Compose
- Harbor
- Trivy
- Traefik
- Nginx
- BuildKit
- Portainer
5work areas
4deliverables
4steps
What is Docker & Containers?
Docker consulting services are the work of packaging an application and its dependencies into small, repeatable container images and running them on your servers with Docker Compose, so the app behaves in production as it does in development. They are meant for software teams whose app works on staging and breaks in production, or whose apps fight over PHP or Node versions on one server. PikoSystem writes multi-stage Dockerfiles with slim base images and a non-root user, defines services, volumes, health checks and restart policies in compose.yaml, deploys a private Harbor registry with a local mirror so builds don't depend on Docker Hub, and scans images with Trivy. You end up with Dockerfiles and compose.yaml in Git, a working private registry, a runbook for deploy, update and rollback, and an image security scan report.
When you need Docker & Containers
- It works on staging and breaks in production.
- Setting up the project on a new server takes days.
- Several apps on one server fight over PHP or Node versions.
- Our images are several gigabytes and every build is slow.
What Docker & Containers includes
Docker Compose stack
Services, networks, volumes and environment variables defined in compose.yaml, with a healthcheck and restart policy for every container.
Private registry
Harbor or Docker Registry on your own infrastructure, plus a local pull-through mirror so builds don't depend on Docker Hub being reachable.
Container security
Image scanning with Trivy, dropped Linux capabilities, read-only filesystems where possible, and no containers with access to docker.sock.
Logging and resource limits
Log driver and rotation settings so logs never fill the disk, and CPU and memory limits per container.
What you get from Docker & Containers
- Version-controlled Dockerfiles and compose.yaml in your Git repository
- A working private registry with defined access roles
- A runbook with exact commands for deploy, update and rollback
- An image security scan report
Docker & Containers: a practical guide
What does a project need before you dockerize it?
A few things in the application itself should be settled before the first Dockerfile is written. Settings such as database addresses, API keys and debug mode need to come from environment variables, never from files baked into the image. User uploads, sessions and cache need a known path so they can live on a volume or an external service, because data inside a container disappears when it is rebuilt.
It also helps if the app logs to stdout and stderr and exposes a simple endpoint like /health. Cron jobs that currently live in the server's crontab and database migrations need an owner too: which container runs them, and when.
Common Docker Compose YAML mistakes
The one we see most often is publishing the database port with 3306:3306. Docker writes its own iptables rules for published ports and those rules bypass ufw, so a database you believe is behind the firewall may be reachable from the internet.
Next come the latest tag, which hides the version actually running and turns rollback into guesswork, and depends_on without condition: service_healthy, which only sets start order and doesn't wait for the database to accept connections. Passwords committed inside compose.yaml and the default json-file log driver without max-size also turn up in almost every review.
What drives the scope of a Docker setup?
The number of services matters, and their shape matters more. A Laravel or Django app built the conventional way is usually quick to containerize. An older app tied to a specific PHP build, compiled extensions or files in fixed OS paths takes considerably longer.
Other factors are the number of environments, whether a private registry and mirror must be built from scratch, how much data has to move onto volumes, and whether image builds should be wired into CI. We set the exact scope after looking at the repository and the current server.
Maintaining containers after go-live
An image stays frozen after it is built, while its base image keeps receiving security fixes. If you never rebuild, vulnerable libraries sit on the server for months. Regular Trivy scans and scheduled rebuilds on a fresh base image are the simplest defence.
Disk space needs watching as well. Unused images and layers pile up, and docker system df shows how much they take. Harbor needs scheduled garbage collection. Test Docker Engine and compose plugin upgrades on a staging server first, since networking behaviour or container naming occasionally changes between versions.
How Docker & Containers works
-
01
Project review
We look at the codebase, dependencies, database and current deployment process, and decide what goes into containers and what stays outside.
-
02
Build the images
We write the Dockerfiles, cut image size and build time, and run everything in a test environment.
-
03
Deploy to your server
We install and configure Docker Engine, move data onto volumes and put the services behind Nginx or Traefik.
-
04
Handover and training
You get the documentation, and we walk your team through a real update and a real rollback.
Docker & Containers: frequently asked questions
Do we need Kubernetes to use Docker?
For most small and mid-sized projects, Docker Compose on one or two servers is enough. Kubernetes starts to make sense when you run many services, need automatic scaling, or have a team to maintain it. We'll assess this with you in the first session.
Should the database run in a container?
It can, as long as the data lives on a persistent volume with regular backups. For busy databases we usually recommend running them directly on a server or a dedicated VM. The call depends on data size and recovery requirements.
Can you set up a private Docker registry?
Yes. We deploy Harbor or a plain Docker Registry on your infrastructure, connect it to your CI pipeline and configure access control and image scanning. Base images are cached locally so builds keep working when external registries are unreachable.
Do you offer Docker consulting for projects still in development?
Yes. We work with your developers on image structure, a local development setup with Compose, and the path to automated deployment. Your team can do the implementation, or we can.
Related searches
- Docker setup
- application containerization
- Docker Compose
- dockerize an application
- private Docker registry
- Docker consulting
Related services
Quote
Tell us what you need, we'll come back with a plan and a price
A few lines on where things stand and what you want is enough. An engineer calls you back, not a sales rep.
- 01We read your request and call if anything is unclear.
- 02If needed, we do a quick remote review or a site visit.
- 03You get a written proposal with scope, timeline and cost.