Running Angular app as docker image using Node js

Question

Trying to build angular application in docker and run as container in my local using Node js.

I have used build image using below Dockerfile, but i am not sure what i am missing while running. Can someone point me out?

Dockerfile:

FROM node:10.15.3
ENV HOME=/home
WORKDIR $HOME
RUN npm config set strict-ssl false \
    && npm config set proxy http://proxy.xxxxxx.com:8080
COPY package.json .
RUN npm install

Image created with below command successfully

docker build -t example .

I am trying to run the image using below command, but it is not helping

docker run -p 4201:4200 example

Answer 1

your Dockerfile does not run/serve your application, in order to do that you have to:

• install angular/cli
• copy the app
• run/serve the app

FROM node:10.15.3

RUN npm config set strict-ssl false \
    && npm config set proxy http://proxy.xxxxxx.com:8080

# get the app
WORKDIR /src
COPY . .

# install packages
RUN npm ci
RUN npm install -g @angular/cli

# start app
CMD ng serve --host 0.0.0.0

hope this helps.

Answer 2

Container need a foreground process running, then it will not exit. If not, the container will directly exit.

For your case, you need to COPY your nodejs project to container when docker build, and also start the project in CMD like CMD [ "npm", "start" ]. As the web server not exit, then your container will not exit.

A good article here for your reference on how to dockerizing a Node.js web app.