Forem

Cover image for Supercharging Multi-Architecture - Docker Builds with Docker Build Cloud in GitHub Actions πŸš€
Prasad Bhalerao
Prasad Bhalerao

Posted on β€’ Edited on

2 1

Supercharging Multi-Architecture - Docker Builds with Docker Build Cloud in GitHub Actions πŸš€

The Struggle of Multi-Architecture Builds in GitHub Actions πŸ˜…

Building multi-architecture Docker images (linux/amd64, linux/arm64, etc.) in GitHub Actions can be frustrating. You might have struggled with buildx, faced challenges with QEMU virtualization, and encountered timeouts because of runner limitations. Managing multi-stage Dockerfiles, optimizing caching, and ensuring seamless builds across different platforms can be complex and time-consuming.

And let’s be honestβ€”missing a flag or platform, only to have your build fail after an hour, is beyond frustrating. 😬

Enter Docker Build Cloud πŸŒ₯️ – The Game-Changer for Multi-Arch Builds

Docker Build Cloud simplifies multi-architecture Docker builds by offloading the process to the cloud. Say goodbye to QEMU setup headaches, runner limitations, and long build times. Here’s what Docker Build Cloud offers:

βœ… Effortless multi-architecture builds (linux/amd64, linux/arm64, etc.)

βœ… No manual QEMU configuration for cross-platform builds

βœ… Faster builds with scalable cloud resourcesβ€”no timeouts!

βœ… Direct image push to Docker Hub or GitHub Container Registry (GHCR)

Ready to streamline GitHub Actions automation for Docker builds? Let’s dive in! πŸš€


Step 1: Prerequisites

Before configuring Docker Build Cloud in GitHub Actions, ensure you have:

  • A Docker Account: Sign up for Docker Build Cloud.
  • GitHub Secrets Setup: Add your Docker Hub username and Personal Access Token (PAT) as secrets in GitHub.
  • Docker Build Cloud Builder: Create a builder instance and note the endpoint URL.

Step 2: Configure GitHub Actions Workflow for Multi-Architecture Builds

Create a GitHub Actions workflow in .github/workflows/build.yml to leverage Docker Build Cloud.

Key Steps in the Workflow:

  1. Trigger on push events to the main branch.
  2. Set up Docker Buildx with the cloud driver.
  3. Build and push the multi-architecture image to a container registry.

Here’s the optimized GitHub Actions YAML configuration:

name: Multi-Arch Docker Build in the Cloud πŸŒ₯️

on:
  push:
    branches:
      - "main"

env:
  REGISTRY: ghcr.io
  IMAGE_NAME: ${{ github.repository }}
  IMAGE_TAG: latest

jobs:
  build_and_push:
    runs-on: ubuntu-24.04
    permissions:
      contents: read
      packages: write

    steps:
      - name: Log in to Docker Hub
        uses: docker/login-action@v3
        with:
          username: ${{ secrets.DOCKER_USER }}
          password: ${{ secrets.DOCKER_PAT }}

      - name: Log into GitHub Container Registry
        uses: docker/login-action@v3
        with:
          registry: ghcr.io
          username: ${{ github.actor }}
          password: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}

      - name: Checkout Repository Code
        uses: actions/checkout@v4

      - name: Set up Docker Buildx for Cloud
        uses: docker/setup-buildx-action@v3
        with:
          driver: cloud
          endpoint: "ORG/default"  # Replace with your Docker Build Cloud endpoint
          install: true

      - name: Build and Push Multi-Arch Docker Image
        uses: docker/build-push-action@v6
        with:
          context: .
          platforms: linux/amd64,linux/arm64  # Define target architectures
          tags: ${{ env.REGISTRY }}/${{ env.IMAGE_NAME }}:${{ env.IMAGE_TAG }}
          push: true

      - name: Image Pushed Successfully βœ…
        run: echo "Docker image ${REGISTRY}/${IMAGE_NAME}:${IMAGE_TAG} pushed successfully!"
Enter fullscreen mode Exit fullscreen mode

Step 3: Configure GitHub Secrets

Before pushing your build, set up GitHub Secrets for authentication:

  1. Navigate to Repository Settings > Secrets.
  2. Add the following secrets:
    • DOCKER_USER: Your Docker Hub username.
    • DOCKER_PAT: Your Docker Hub Personal Access Token.
    • GITHUB_TOKEN: Automatically provided by GitHub (no need to set manually).

Step 4: Push and Automate Multi-Architecture Builds

Once you push your changes to the main branch, GitHub Actions triggers the workflow automatically. You can monitor the build process in the Actions tab.

If everything works correctly, you should see:

Docker image ghcr.io/your-org/your-repo:latest pushed successfully!
Enter fullscreen mode Exit fullscreen mode

Boom! πŸŽ‰ You’ve just automated multi-architecture Docker builds in GitHub Actions using Docker Build Cloud! πŸš€


Why Use Docker Build Cloud for Multi-Arch Builds?

πŸ”₯ Faster Builds: Cloud-native builds scale horizontally, reducing wait times.

πŸ› οΈ Simplified Configuration: No need for manual QEMU setup or local dependencies.

⚑ Automatic Build Caching: Avoids unnecessary rebuilds and speeds up CI/CD workflows.

πŸ”— Seamless GitHub Actions Integration: Easily integrates with existing CI/CD pipelines.


Conclusion: Automate Multi-Architecture Docker Builds with Ease πŸš€

Integrating Docker Build Cloud with GitHub Actions eliminates the complexity of multi-architecture builds. It optimizes Docker image building, speeds up CI/CD pipelines, and removes manual overhead.

No more struggling with runner limitations, QEMU setups, or long build times. Docker Build Cloud does the heavy lifting so you can focus on shipping great software. πŸš€

Start building smarter today! πŸ—οΈ


Additional Resources πŸ“š

Do your career a big favor. Join DEV. (The website you're on right now)

It takes one minute, it's free, and is worth it for your career.

Get started

Community matters

Top comments (0)

πŸ‘‹ Kindness is contagious

Discover a treasure trove of wisdom within this insightful piece, highly respected in the nurturing DEV Community enviroment. Developers, whether novice or expert, are encouraged to participate and add to our shared knowledge basin.

A simple "thank you" can illuminate someone's day. Express your appreciation in the comments section!

On DEV, sharing ideas smoothens our journey and strengthens our community ties. Learn something useful? Offering a quick thanks to the author is deeply appreciated.

Okay