Optimizing Docker Build Performance in Circle CI

Namespace provides high-performance Remote Builders that can significantly speed up your Docker builds in CircleCI workflows. The easiest way to use Namespace Remote Builders is through the namespacelabs/build orb, which handles all the configuration automatically.

Access to Namespace

Namespace federates with CircleCI using OpenID Connect to generate short-lived access tokens.

After a one-time setup, your workflows can access Namespace indefinitely, without relying on pre-shared keys which can be more easily compromised:

Find your CircleCI Organization ID in Organization Settings > Overview in the CircleCI web application.
Email support at support@namespace.so with both your Organization ID and your Namespace workspace ID from the Dashboard.

Using Remote Builders

Add the orb to your CircleCI configuration

orbs:
  build: namespacelabs/build@0.2.1

Configure the Namespace Remote Builder environment

steps:
  - checkout
  - build/setup

Use the Remote Builder

When invoking docker build, pass namespace as --builder to buildx:

docker buildx build --builder namespace .

Complete example

version: 2.1
 
orbs:
  build: namespacelabs/build@0.2.1
 
jobs:
  docker-build:
    docker:
      - image: cimg/base:stable
    steps:
      - checkout
      - build/setup
      - run:
          name: Build and push Docker image
          command: |
            docker buildx build --builder namespace .
 
workflows:
  build:
    jobs:
      - docker-build