How to Use Docker BuildKit for Faster Builds

Docker BuildKit is a modern build system for Docker images that provides improved performance and new features. This article explains how to use Docker BuildKit for faster builds.

Enabling BuildKit

Enable BuildKit by setting the environment variable:

export DOCKER_BUILDKIT=1

Building an Image with BuildKit

Build an image using BuildKit:

docker build -t my_image .

BuildKit Features

• Parallel Builds: BuildKit can execute multiple stages in parallel.
• Cache Imports: BuildKit can import cache from external sources.
• Advanced Frontends: Support for advanced frontends like Dockerfile syntax enhancements.

Conclusion

Using Docker BuildKit can significantly speed up your Docker builds and enable advanced build features, improving your overall development workflow.