Creating a better Docker mysql

So having played with Docker and the mysql images before it’s time to create something that’s less of a disposable test.

The idea is to create a mysql instance, preload it with a test database and have a custom mysql config as well.

All will be based off the official Docker image so not to difficult.

Let’s start with the Dockerfile and then go through it

FROM mysql:5.7.11
RUN apt-get update && apt-get install -y vim

COPY mydb.sql /docker-entrypoint-initdb.d/
COPY my-config.cnf /etc/mysql/conf.d/

VOLUME /var/lib/mysql

FROM mysql:5.7.11 the base image. Picking a tag is a good idea that way you get the same version each time.

RUN apt-get update && apt-get install -y vim installs vi, the base image doesn’t have a text editor and I wanted one

COPY mydb.sql /docker-entrypoint-initdb.d/ mydb.sql is your local file that creates your database, tables, etc…

COPY my-config.cnf /etc/mysql/conf.d/ my-config.cnf is your local file that overrides any of the normal my.cnf mysql stuff that you want. For example I had to do it for this problem

Once you have your Dockerfile, your local db and config file you can go to that directory and run

docker build -t test-sql .

The -t test-sql tags this build so you can use it later. It will trundle away and build the image.

Once done you can use it as a base for a container. For example

docker run -d --name container-mysql -p 3306:3306 -e MYSQL_ROOT_PASSWORD=password test-sql

That should have created the database with your config and you should be good to go.