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Docker command fails during build, but succeeds while executed within running container
3 answers
The following Dockerfile :
FROM ubuntu:12.10
RUN mkdir tmp123
RUN cd tmp123
RUN pwd
has the output :
Uploading context 10240 bytes
Step 1 : FROM ubuntu:12.10
---> b750fe79269d
Step 2 : RUN mkdir tmp123
---> Running in d2afac8a11b0
---> 51e2bbbb5513
Step 3 : RUN cd tmp123
---> Running in 4762147b207c
---> 644801121b92
Step 4 : RUN pwd
---> Running in 3ed1c0f1049d
/
---> eee62a068585
when built (docker build command)
it appears that RUN cd tmp123 has no effect
why ?
It is actually expected.
A dockerfile is nothing more but a wrapper on docker run + docker commit.
FROM ubuntu:12.10
RUN mkdir tmp123
RUN cd tmp123
RUN pwd
Is the same thing as doing:
CID=$(docker run ubuntu:12.10 mkdir tmp123); ID=$(docker commit $CID)
CID=$(docker run $ID cd tmp123); ID=$(docker commit $CID)
CID=$(docker run $ID pwd); ID=$(docker commit $CID)
Each time you RUN, you spawn a new container and therefore the pwd is '/'.
If you feel like it, you can open an issue on github in order to add a CHDIR instruction to Dockerfile.
Maybe you can try this; I am not sure and I can't try it. If it does not work, I hope you don't downvote.
Just:
RUN 'cd tmp123 ; pwd'
Instead of
RUN cd tmp123
RUN pwd