Docker: how to build an image from a non-master branch on Github repository

Question

Is it possible to build an image from a non-master branch on a Github repository?

For example, I have the repository //github.com/myAccount/docker-myImage with a branch development that I would like to use for my image. Unfortunately, the following command only seems to allow building from the master branch:

docker build -t myAccount/myImage git://github.com/myAccount/docker-myImage

Here is the relevant documentation from man docker build:

Building an image using a URL

This will clone the specified Github repository from the URL and use it as context. The Dockerfile at the root of the repository is used as Dockerfile. This only works if the Github repository is a dedicated repository.

docker build github.com/scollier/Fedora-Dockerfiles/tree/master/apache

Note: You can set an arbitrary Git repository via the git:// schema.

Perhaps there is an alternative, like docker build -t myAccount/myImage git://github.com/myAccount/docker-myImage:development?

Answer 1

docker build -t myAccount/myImage https://github.com/myAccount/docker-myImage.git#development

See docker build command reference for more options.

Answer 2

I proposed this question on #docker at the Freenode IRC and the user scollier contacted me and he said that he'll get back to me about this issue. I believe he is involved with the Docker documentation that I mentioned in my questions. In the meantime, I found a workaround by adding the following to my Dockerfile:

RUN git clone something && cd something && git checkout branch

This solution seems to solve all my needs. Thanks for the support!