How to create Docker packages in GitHub?

Docker packages in GitHub are stored in the GitHub Container Registry (GHCR), which works like Docker Hub but is linked directly to your GitHub repositories.

Steps to Create & Publish Docker Packages in GitHub

1. Enable GHCR (GitHub Container Registry)

• You don’t need extra setup, just a GitHub account.
• The registry URL is:

lua

ghcr.io

2. Login to GitHub Container Registry

Run this in your terminal:

bash

echo $GITHUB_TOKEN | docker login ghcr.io -u USERNAME --password-stdin

• Replace USERNAME with your GitHub username.
• $GITHUB_TOKEN can be:
  • A Personal Access Token (PAT) with write:packages and read:packages scopes.
  • Or GITHUB_TOKEN inside GitHub Actions.

3. Create a Dockerfile

Example Dockerfile for a Laravel or PHP app:

dockerfile


FROM php:8.3-fpm-alpine

# Install dependencies
RUN docker-php-ext-install pdo pdo_mysql

# Set working directory
WORKDIR /var/www

# Copy files
COPY . .

# Expose port
EXPOSE 9000

CMD ["php-fpm"]

4. Build the Docker Image

Run:

bash

docker build -t ghcr.io/USERNAME/REPO-NAME:latest .

Example:

bash

docker build -t ghcr.io/johndoe/laravel-app:latest .

5. Push Image to GitHub

bash

docker push ghcr.io/USERNAME/REPO-NAME:latest

Now your package is available in GitHub → Repository → Packages.

6. (Optional) Automate with GitHub Actions

Create .github/workflows/docker.yml:

yaml

name: Publish Docker image

on:
  push:
    branches: [ "main" ]

jobs:
  build:
    runs-on: ubuntu-latest

    steps:
    - name: Checkout code
      uses: actions/checkout@v4

    - name: Log in to GitHub Container Registry
      run: echo "${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}" | docker login ghcr.io -u ${{ github.actor }} --password-stdin

    - name: Build Docker image
      run: docker build -t ghcr.io/${{ github.repository }}:latest .

    - name: Push Docker image
      run: docker push ghcr.io/${{ github.repository }}:latest

This way, every time you push to main, GitHub builds and pushes a new Docker image automatically.

7. Use the Package

Anyone with access can pull and run it:

bash

docker pull ghcr.io/USERNAME/REPO-NAME:latest
docker run -p 8000:8000 ghcr.io/USERNAME/REPO-NAME:latest

Summary:

• Login to GHCR
• Build image → Tag as ghcr.io/username/repo:tag
• Push → Package shows up in GitHub
• (Optional) Automate with Actions