docker_tutorial.md

Packaging Your Policy Server with Docker

Overview

This guide explains how to package your Python policy server into a Docker container, so that it can be run and tested consistently by instructors or TAs.

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1. Project Structure

Your project may look like:

student_repo/
├── serve_policy.py
└── ...other files

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2. Dockerfile Template

Create a file named Dockerfile in the root of your repo:

# Use a proper image
FROM ...

# Set working directory
WORKDIR /app

# Copy the needed files
COPY ...

# Install system dependencies if needed
RUN apt-get update && apt-get install -y \
    git \
    curl \
    && rm -rf /var/lib/apt/lists/*

# Install Python dependencies
RUN ...

# Default command to run your policy server
CMD ["python", "serve_policy.py"]

Make sure your server listens on 0.0.0.0, not 127.0.0.1.

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3. Build Docker Image

Run the following in your project directory:

docker build -t <your-policy-server> .

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4. Run the Server

The instructor or TA can run the container and map any host port to the container port:

docker run --rm --gpus all -p 8000:8000 -v $(pwd)/models:/models <your-policy-server> [args for serve_policy.py]

• Replace 8000 with any desired port.
• The server inside the container must listen on 0.0.0.0.
• run with GPU support (requires NVIDIA Container Toolkit)

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5. Submission Guidelines

1. Provide a Dockerfile in your repository, or a pre-built Docker image file (.tar).
2. Make sure your server (serve_policy.py) listens on 0.0.0.0 so it can accept connections from outside the container.
3. The image should be runnable by the TA without additional setup.

• Export image as .tar:

docker save -o your-policy-server.tar your-policy-server

• TA can import and run:

docker load -i your-policy-server.tar
docker run ...