Can a variable be used in docker FROM?

Question

I am wondering if a env variable can be used in a docker from? Reason for this is to control the tagging. For example, say I have this line in my Dockerfile:

From myApp

What I want is this:

From myApp:${VERSION}

This way I can say docker build . myApp --build-arg VERSION=9

The process to build docker images for this app is the same. I don't want to have Dockerfiles that are almost identical just to use a different base image.If I want to build version 9, it should use version 9 of the base image.

question from:https://stackoverflow.com/questions/36556766/can-a-variable-be-used-in-docker-from

Answer 1

Quoting this link :

This is now possible if anyone comes here looking for answers: https://docs.docker.com/engine/reference/builder/#understand-how-arg-and-from-interact