Quick Custom Image

If you just want to add some nodes or maybe make a docker container out of and existing project then you can use the Docker layering to add to the existing base images.

For example a Dockerfile like this

FROM nodered/node-red

# copy node-red project files into place
COPY flows.json /data/flows.json
COPY flows_cred.json /data/flows_cred.json
COPY settings.js /data/settings.js

# copy package.json to the WORKDIR so npm builds for node-red
COPY package.json .
RUN npm install --unsafe-perm --no-update-notifier --no-audit --only=production

CMD ["npm", "start"]

will copy in your package.json, settings.js, flows and flows_creds files and install all the relevant modules. If you don't need flows or settings then just comment or delete them from the example above.

Note: the package.json file must contain both the base node-red project as a dependency, AND a run script section like this

{
    "name": "node-red-project",
    "description": "A Node-RED Project",
    "version": "0.0.1",
    "dependencies": {
        "node-red": "1.0.2",
        "node-red-contrib-web-worldmap": "*",
        "node-red-dashboard": "*"
    },
    "scripts": {
        "start": "node $NODE_OPTIONS node_modules/node-red/red.js $FLOWS"
    }
}

A quick way to run and test this Dockerfile is the command line

docker run --rm -p 1880:1880 -it --name mytest $(docker build -q .)

Which will create the image - run it on port 1880, then delete the container when you close it.