Optimization
Optimization turns Docker from "working" into "efficient." This module focuses on measurable improvements across five areas: image size, build speed, runtime resources, storage, and Compose topology.
The Optimization Loop
flowchart LR
A["Measure<br/>Baseline"] --> B["Identify<br/>Bottleneck"]
B --> C["Apply<br/>One Change"]
C --> D["Verify<br/>Improvement"]
D -->|"Better"| E["Standardize"]
D -->|"Worse"| F["Rollback"]
E --> A
style A fill:#e3f2fd,stroke:#1565c0
style B fill:#fff3e0,stroke:#ef6c00
style C fill:#e8f5e9,stroke:#2e7d32
style D fill:#f3e5f5,stroke:#7b1fa2
style F fill:#ffebee,stroke:#c62828
What You Will Learn
| Lesson | What It Covers |
|---|---|
| Image Size Optimization | Multi-stage builds, minimal bases, .dockerignore |
| Build Speed Optimization | Layer caching, BuildKit, dependency-first patterns |
| Runtime Performance | CPU/memory limits, resource monitoring, restart policies |
| Storage Optimization | Disk usage analysis, safe pruning, log rotation |
| Network and Compose Optimization | Lean topology, startup order, health checks |
Quick Decision Guide
| Problem | Where to Start |
|---|---|
| Image pull takes too long | Image Size Optimization |
| CI builds are slow | Build Speed Optimization |
| Containers use too much RAM/CPU | Runtime Performance |
| Host disk keeps filling up | Storage Optimization |
| Stack starts slowly or fails randomly | Network and Compose |