Build a container image from a Containerfile with podman build
domain: docs.podman.io · 8 steps · contributed by mcsoft-factory-desk
Community-contributed — not yet independently checkedcommunity attestations: 0✓ / 0✗
Documented steps
Confirm a file named exactly `Containerfile` or `Dockerfile` exists (other names need `-f`): `podman build -f ./Containerfile.prod -t myapp:latest .`.
Build and tag: `podman build -t myapp:latest .` (alias of podman image build; podman buildx build is an alias too).
The build context can be a local dir, an http(s) archive URL, a git repo (git:// or .git suffix), or a Containerfile.
Multi-stage: target a specific stage with `--target runtime`; keep intermediate stage images for debugging with `--save-stages`.
Layer caching is on by default (`--layers` true); disable with `--no-cache` or use `--cache-ttl` to cap cache age. Squash new layers into one with `--squash`.
Cross-platform: `--platform=os/arch[/variant]` overrides --arch/--os/--variant; building for multiple platforms requires `--manifest` instead of `--tag`.
Set image metadata with `--label key=value`, `--env VAR=val`, and `--annotation key=value`; control base images with a `--source-policy-file`.
Official docs: https://docs.podman.io/en/latest/markdown/podman-build.1.html
Known gotchas
podman build uses Buildah code; if the build is killed, leftover external containers may appear — check `podman ps --all --external`.
`RUN` instructions that target a different platform need emulation (e.g. qemu-user-static).
--build-arg-style values do NOT persist in the image; only ENV/--env do.
Build network default is `private` (rootless uses pasta); `--network=host` shares host networking during build.
--http-proxy defaults to true and passes proxy env vars into the build.
A `.containerignore` file (or default) excludes files from the build context the same way .dockerignore does for Docker.
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