COPY with docker but with exclusion

In a Dockerfile, I have

COPY . .

I want to exclude an entire directory, in my case, node_modules directory.

Something like this:

   COPY [all but **/node_modules/**] .

Is this possible with Docker?

Create file .dockerignore in your docker build context directory (so in this case, most likely a directory that is a parent to node_modules) with one line in it:

**/node_modules

although you probably just want:

node_modules

Info about dockerignore: https://docs.docker.com/engine/reference/builder/#dockerignore-file

For those who can't use a .dockerignore file (e.g. if you need the file in one COPY but not another):

Yes, but you need multiple COPY instructions. Specifically, you need a COPY for each letter in the filename you wish to exclude.

COPY [^n]*    # All files that don't start with 'n'
COPY n[^o]*   # All files that start with 'n', but not 'no'
COPY no[^d]*  # All files that start with 'no', but not 'nod'

Continuing until you have the full file name, or just the prefix you're reasonably sure won't have any other files.

Excluding node_modules from current directory

node_modules

Excluding node_modules in any immediate subdirectories

*/node_modules

Here is the official docs

FOR A ONE LINER SOLUTION, type the following in Command prompt or Terminal at project root.

echo node_modules >> .dockerignore

This command appends "node_modules" in the .dockerignore file. If the .dockerignore does not exist already, it will create a new one. Replace node_modules with the folder you want to exclude.

Warning: If you are new to Docker ecosystem and/or you already have the .dockerignore file in your project, please take a backup before proceeding.

BONUS: (as pointed out by Joey Baruch)

(To CREATE/OVERWRITE the .dockerignore file via PowerShell, which can be handled by Docker):
>> echo node_modules | Out-File -Encoding UTF8 .dockerignore

Adding .dockerignore works for me. One additional point Those who are trying this solution on Windows , windows will not let you create .dockerignore file (as it doesn't by default allows creating file starting with .)

To create such file starting with . on Windows, include an ending dot also, like : .dockerignore. and hit enter ( provided you have enabled view extension options from folder options )

For those using gcloud build:

gcloud build ignores .dockerignore and looks instead for .gcloudignore

Use:

cp .dockerignore .gcloudignore

Source