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World D1: First Containers

Handy run flags: -d, --name, --rm

You will learn: to run a container in the background, give it a name, and let it tidy up.

Checked with Docker Engine 29 on 31 Oct 2026

The problem

Your laptop~

  • No open hatches

Lunchboxes (containers)

  • No containers yet

Frozen packs (images)

  • alpine:3.221 layers · 12.9MB
  • nginx:1.30-alpine8 layers · 93.5MB

You ran nginx. Now your terminal is stuck, full of messages. And the box got a random name. Let’s fix both.

Try it

Build a better command. detached (-d): The container runs in the background, like a rice cooker: press start, walk away. means detached. The box runs in the background, like a rice cooker. --name picks its name.

Tap the pieces in the right order.

…

Try it

Now type it. Your terminal stays free, and the box is called web.

Your laptop~

  • No open hatches

Lunchboxes (containers)

  • No containers yet

Frozen packs (images)

  • alpine:3.221 layers · 12.9MB
  • nginx:1.30-alpine8 layers · 93.5MB

Watch

Your laptop~

  • No open hatches

Lunchboxes (containers)

  • No containers yet

Frozen packs (images)

  • alpine:3.221 layers · 12.9MB
  • nginx:1.30-alpine8 layers · 93.5MB

–rm throws the box away when its job ends. docker ps -a shows nothing left. Perfect for one-off jobs.

Try it

Which flag fits each job?

Drag a card into a box. Or tap the card, then tap the box.

        Predict

        web already exists. You run docker run -d --name web nginx:1.30-alpine again. What happens?

        Check

        Your laptop~

        Lunchboxes (containers)

        • webrunning
          from nginx:1.30-alpine 8080→80

        Frozen packs (images)

        • alpine:3.221 layers · 12.9MB
        • nginx:1.30-alpine8 layers · 93.5MB · in use

        The real error says the name "/web" is already in use. Plain words: one name, one box. Remove the old box, or pick a new name.

        You did it!

        You can now run, name and tidy up boxes with three flags.

        Go deeper (optional)

        -d and --rm work together: a background box that cleans up when it stops. docker rename web shop changes a name. -it gives you a keyboard inside a box; that comes in lesson 6.

        Real rep (optional):

        Real mission

        1. docker run -d --name web nginx:1.30-alpine
        2. docker run --rm alpine:3.22 echo hi
        3. docker ps -a
        4. docker rm -f web

        0 of 4 steps done · Your ticks are saved.