github.com/circular-dark/docker@v1.7.0/docs/articles/baseimages.md (about) 1 <!--[metadata]> 2 +++ 3 title = "Create a base image" 4 description = "How to create base images" 5 keywords = ["Examples, Usage, base image, docker, documentation, examples"] 6 [menu.main] 7 parent = "smn_images" 8 +++ 9 <![end-metadata]--> 10 11 # Create a base image 12 13 So you want to create your own [*Base Image*]( 14 /terms/image/#base-image)? Great! 15 16 The specific process will depend heavily on the Linux distribution you 17 want to package. We have some examples below, and you are encouraged to 18 submit pull requests to contribute new ones. 19 20 ## Create a full image using tar 21 22 In general, you'll want to start with a working machine that is running 23 the distribution you'd like to package as a base image, though that is 24 not required for some tools like Debian's 25 [Debootstrap](https://wiki.debian.org/Debootstrap), which you can also 26 use to build Ubuntu images. 27 28 It can be as simple as this to create an Ubuntu base image: 29 30 $ sudo debootstrap raring raring > /dev/null 31 $ sudo tar -C raring -c . | docker import - raring 32 a29c15f1bf7a 33 $ docker run raring cat /etc/lsb-release 34 DISTRIB_ID=Ubuntu 35 DISTRIB_RELEASE=13.04 36 DISTRIB_CODENAME=raring 37 DISTRIB_DESCRIPTION="Ubuntu 13.04" 38 39 There are more example scripts for creating base images in the Docker 40 GitHub Repo: 41 42 - [BusyBox](https://github.com/docker/docker/blob/master/contrib/mkimage-busybox.sh) 43 - CentOS / Scientific Linux CERN (SLC) [on Debian/Ubuntu]( 44 https://github.com/docker/docker/blob/master/contrib/mkimage-rinse.sh) or 45 [on CentOS/RHEL/SLC/etc.]( 46 https://github.com/docker/docker/blob/master/contrib/mkimage-yum.sh) 47 - [Debian / Ubuntu]( 48 https://github.com/docker/docker/blob/master/contrib/mkimage-debootstrap.sh) 49 50 ## Creating a simple base image using `scratch` 51 52 There is a special repository in the Docker registry called `scratch`, which 53 was created using an empty tar file: 54 55 $ tar cv --files-from /dev/null | docker import - scratch 56 57 which you can `docker pull`. You can then use that 58 image to base your new minimal containers `FROM`: 59 60 FROM scratch 61 COPY true-asm /true 62 CMD ["/true"] 63 64 The `Dockerfile` above is from an extremely minimal image - [tianon/true]( 65 https://github.com/tianon/dockerfiles/tree/master/true). 66 67 ## More resources 68 69 There are lots more resources available to help you write your 'Dockerfile`. 70 71 * There's a [complete guide to all the instructions](/reference/builder/) available for use in a `Dockerfile` in the reference section. 72 * To help you write a clear, readable, maintainable `Dockerfile`, we've also 73 written a [`Dockerfile` Best Practices guide](/articles/dockerfile_best-practices). 74 * If your goal is to create a new Official Repository, be sure to read up on Docker's [Official Repositories](/docker-hub/official_repos/).