Containerizing Python Web Applications: A Flask and MySQL Example

In this tutorial, we'll explore the process of containerizing a Python web application using Docker. Specifically, we'll be working with Flask, a popular web framework, and MySQL as the database. Docker provides a convenient and consistent environment for deploying applications, making it an ideal choice for developers looking to simplify deployment workflows.

What You'll Learn:

• Setting up a Docker image based on Ubuntu 20.04

• Installing Python 3 and pip within the Docker image

• Configuring a Flask application with Flask-MySQL

• Organizing your project structure for containerization

• Defining the entry point and running your Flask app within a Docker container

mkdir my-simple-app
cd my-simple-app

import os
from flask import Flask
app = Flask(__name__)

@app.route("/")
def main():
    return "Welcome!"

@app.route('/how are you')
def hello():
    return 'I am good, how about you?'


if __name__ == "__main__":
    app.run(host="0.0.0.0", port=8080)

FROM ubuntu:20.04

RUN apt-get update && \
    apt-get install -y python3 && 
    apt-get install -y python3-pip

RUN pip install flask flask-mysql

COPY app.py /opt/app.py

WORKDIR /opt

ENTRYPOINT ["flask", "run", "--host=0.0.0.0", "--port=8080"]

Now build the Dockerfile and run the image. Boom

docker build . -t my-simple-app
docker run --name python_service my-simple-app