Why Use Ubuntu as a Docker Base Image When Alpine Exists?

Docker images are also referred to as source images to build the Docker container. These images are mostly created with the help of base images. The base images are the official Docker images or user user-created images and are considered the starting point for creating containers. It is usually used to obtain support for installing dependencies for containerized applications.

This blog will demonstrate why to use an ubuntu base image when alpine exists.

Why Use Ubuntu as a Docker Base Image When Alpine Exists?

Ubuntu and Alpine are both Linux-based images and are frequently used as base images for building Docker containers. In Docker, images are lightweight and preferable to use as base images, and these are faster in project building and deployment. However, that does not mean these are suitable in every scenario. Alpine image is much lighter and faster than the “ubuntu” image. Still, we can consider ubuntu as a base image in some scenarios due to the listed advantages:

• The ubuntu base image has an APT (Advanced Package Tool) official repository that contains thousands of packages. You can utilize the Advanced Package Tool to install additional dependencies and packages.
• It includes numerous built-in dependencies and libraries. Due to this, the user is not required to install additional dependencies separately in the top layer of the Docker container.
• Ubuntu is the most common and widely used Linux distribution. Users are more familiar with ubuntu than alpine images.

However, there are some limitations of Ubuntu as well, such as needing to be more secure and lighter in weight than the alpine image. But it does not mean ubuntu is not good as a base image.

How to Utilize Ubuntu as a Base Image?

You can use Ubuntu as a base image when you need additional dependencies in the container’s top layer. To use Ubuntu as a base image, go through the provided steps.

Step 1: Create Dockerfile

First, create a simple Dockerfile that contains the following instructions:

According to the above snippet:

• “FROM” command specifies “ubuntu” as a base image for the container.
• “RUN” command executes the mentioned command, such as updating and installing dependencies using the APT ubuntu repository.
• “CMD” specifies the executable point for the container. In the “CMD” command, we have specified the python program that displays “Docker is more simple Deployment Tool”:

Step 2: Make New Image

Next, execute the “docker build” command to generate the image from Dockerfile:

Step 3: Create and Fire up the Container

Now, run the newly generated image to create and start the Docker container:

That’s how you can use ubuntu as the base image while alpine exists.

Conclusion

In some scenarios, the “ubuntu” base image can be preferable over the alpine, such as when users are required to install additional dependencies and extra packages in the container. Ubuntu has an APT repository that contains thousands of packages and libraries, users can easily get and install required dependencies. Another reason is that most users are more familiar with Ubuntu as it is more common than Alpine Linux. This writ e-up has explained why to use ubuntu as the base image while alpine exists.