Lost in Docker: My Adventure to Rebuild a Production Environment

Navigating the Docker Jungle: A Developer’s Quest for Local Success

In the wild world of tech startups, there’s a universal truth: documentation is often as mythical as unicorns. When Bob — the sole developer — abruptly exited stage left without so much as a sticky note, I found myself thrust into the deep end of the Docker pool. My mission? Get three critical containers — the Parse server, MongoDB, and Parse Dashboard — up and running locally. Spoiler alert: it was a wild ride.

The Mission: Capture the Docker Containers

After logging into the server with a mix of excitement and dread, I launched a terminal session that felt like entering the tech version of a horror movie. I began my quest by executing the iconic command:

ssh username@server_ip

A quick docker ps revealed the elusive trio: the Parse server, MongoDB, and the Parse Dashboard, all happily humming along in their containers. "Great, I found them!" I thought. But this was only the beginning.

Step 1: Transforming Containers into Images

With the container IDs in hand, it was time to transform them into images. This was like capturing Bob’s ghost, but with much less spooky side effects. I started with the Parse server:

docker commit CONTAINER_ID_PARSE new_parse_image

Next up was MongoDB and then the Parse Dashboard, each time capturing their essence in a new image. It was a Docker triathlon, and I was feeling pretty heroic.

Step 2: Exporting My Hard-Won Images

Now came the next step: exporting these images as .tar files. This felt like I was smuggling precious artifacts out of a museum. I executed the following commands one after another, making sure to save them somewhere I could easily access:

docker save -o /path/to/parse_image.tar new_parse_image
docker save -o /path/to/mongo_image.tar new_mongo_image
docker save -o /path/to/dashboard_image.tar new_dashboard_image

After what felt like an eternity, I had my treasures securely stashed on the server. It was time to retrieve them.

Step 3: The Great SCP Transfer

Now, armed with the knowledge of where my treasures lay, I initiated a transfer to my local machine using scp:

scp username@server_ip:/path/to/parse_image.tar /local/path/on/mac
scp username@server_ip:/path/to/mongo_image.tar /local/path/on/mac
scp username@server_ip:/path/to/dashboard_image.tar /local/path/on/mac

I crossed my fingers, hoping nothing would go awry as I watched the progress bars fill up.

Step 4: Bringing It All Together

With all three images now on my Mac, it was time to load them into my local Docker setup. I felt like a scientist bringing a long-lost experiment back to life:

docker load -i /local/path/on/mac/parse_image.tar
docker load -i /local/path/on/mac/mongo_image.tar
docker load -i /local/path/on/mac/dashboard_image.tar

Now, I had my images at the ready, but I was missing one crucial piece: the docker-compose.yml file that would tie everything together.

Step 5: The Search for the Holy Grail

I had to find the docker-compose.yml file, which was critical for spinning up the whole environment. Without it, I was stuck playing with my toys rather than actually playing the game. Armed with determination, I executed the grand command:

sudo find / -name docker-compose.yml

Moments later, my terminal echoed the path to the holy grail. My heart raced as I quickly copied it to my local machine. Now, I had everything I needed.

Step 6: The Grand Finale

Finally, it was time for the grand unveiling. With the docker-compose.yml file safely on my Mac, I ran:

docker-compose up

As the containers sprang to life, I felt an overwhelming sense of accomplishment. My once-empty local development environment was now a replica of production!

A Tribute to All Developers

This journey taught me that no matter how daunting the task may seem, especially when you’re starting from scratch, perseverance and resourcefulness can lead to incredible results. I dedicate this tale to all developers who find themselves navigating the wilds of Docker without a map.

Remember: Every container you spin up is a step toward mastering your craft. Embrace the chaos, ask questions, and never hesitate to hit sudo find / -name when you're lost. You’ve got this!