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freedomw1987
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docker-build-cache-debug

Diagnose stale Docker build cache with timestamp comparisons and forced rebuilds.

2|Updated May 10, 2026
Search Tags:#devops#debug#docker#docker-compose#build-cache#stale-containers#image-layers
One-click install
npx skills add https://github.com/freedomw1987/tree_monstor --skill docker-build-cache-debug
Or copy as Structured Prompt for Agent▼
Please help me install this Agent Skill.
Skill: docker-build-cache-debug
Source: https://github.com/freedomw1987/tree_monstor/tree/main/skills/devops/docker-build-cache-debug
Command: npx skills add https://github.com/freedomw1987/tree_monstor --skill docker-build-cache-debug

SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION & REQUIREMENTS

What problem does it solve?

Docker build cache can cause outdated code to run in deployed containers even after source files are modified, leading to hard-to-trace bugs where builds report success but the running application does not reflect recent changes.

Core Features & Use Cases

  • Staleness Detection: Step-by-step commands to compare Docker image creation timestamps with the latest git commit timestamps to confirm if an image is outdated.
  • Frontend Bundle Validation: Methods to grep production SPA bundles for recently added user-visible strings to catch stale frontend builds.
  • Fix & Prevention Workflow: Guided steps for forced no-cache rebuilds, replacing stale container instances, and best practices to avoid cache-related stale code issues in future deployments.
  • Use Case: Ideal for DevOps engineers and full-stack developers debugging why production containers do not show new features or bug fixes after code commits, or frontend teams missing newly added UI elements in deployed SPAs.

Quick Start

Use this skill to diagnose and resolve stale Docker container issues by following the provided debug, rebuild, and validation workflow.

Frequently Asked Questions about docker-build-cache-debug

High-intent search queries and answers about installing and using this skill.

FAQPage Schema
Why does my Docker container run stale code after a successful build?▼

Docker containers run stale code when the build cache returns outdated image layers instead of rebuilding with modified source files. This happens because Docker reuses cached layers if it determines the build context hasn't structurally changed, causing a mismatch between your latest git commits and the deployed application.

How do I check if a Docker image is outdated compared to my latest git commit?▼

To check if a Docker image is outdated, compare the Docker image creation timestamp with the latest git commit timestamp using diagnostic commands. If the image creation time predates your recent code commits, the build cache served stale image layers and a forced no-cache rebuild is required to deploy the updated code.

How do I force a Docker rebuild to bypass the build cache?▼

To force a Docker rebuild that bypasses the build cache, execute a no-cache rebuild command and then replace the stale container instances with the newly built images. This ensures the deployed containers reflect your recent source file changes instead of returning outdated cached image layers.

How do I verify if a deployed frontend SPA bundle contains my latest code changes?▼

To verify a deployed frontend SPA bundle, grep the production bundle contents for recently added user-visible strings. If the newly added UI elements or text are missing from the bundle, the Docker build cache served a stale frontend build that needs a forced no-cache rebuild.

Does this Docker build cache debugging workflow work with Docker Compose?▼

Yes, this debugging workflow applies to both Docker Compose and standalone Docker builds. It provides step-by-step diagnostic commands to validate image staleness, execute forced no-cache rebuilds, and replace stale container instances across different DevOps and development environments.

What should I do when Docker build commands report success but containers do not reflect recent changes?▼

When Docker build commands report success but containers do not reflect recent changes, run the staleness detection workflow to compare image and git timestamps, validate the frontend bundle, execute a forced no-cache rebuild, and ensure new images replace the stale container instances.

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