Gitlab CI - docker: command not found - docker

Question

I am trying to build my docker image within the gitlab ci pipeline.
However it is not able to find the docker command.
/bin/bash: line 69: docker: command not found ERROR: Job failed: error
executing remote command: command terminated with non-zero exit code:
Error executing in Docker Container: 1
.gitlab-ci.yml
stages:
- quality
- test
- build
- deploy
image: node:8.11.3
services:
- mongo
- docker:dind
before_script:
- npm install
quality:
stage: quality
script:
- npm run-script lint
test:
stage: test
script:
- npm run-script test
build:
stage: build
script:
- docker build -t server .
deploy:
stage: deploy
script:
- echo "TODO deploy push docker image"

Answer 1

you need to choose an image including docker binaries
image: gitlab/dind
services:
- docker:dind

Answer 2

You have 2 options to fix this. You will need to edit your config.toml file (located wherever you installed your gitlab runner).
OPTION 1
in config.toml:
privileged = true
in .gitlab-ci.yml:
myjob:
stage: myjob
image: docker:latest
services:
- docker:18.09.7-dind # older version that does not need demand TLS (see below)
OPTION 2
in config.toml:
privileged = true
volumes = ["/certs/client", "/cache"]
in .gitlab-ci.yml:
myjob:
stage: myjob
image: docker:latest
services:
- docker:dind
variables:
DOCKER_DRIVER: overlay2 # not sure if this is needed
DOCKER_TLS_CERTDIR: "/certs"
IMPORTANT: ONCE YOU HAVE MADE THE CHANGES TO config.toml YOU WILL PROBABLY NEED TO RESTART THE GITLAB RUNNER (which may vary depending on OS) - I DID RESTART MINE, NOT SURE WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF YOU DID NOT RESTART IT!
Instructions for restarting gitlab runner are here ... https://docs.gitlab.com/runner/commands/ ... basically gitlab-runner restart but on Windows I had to use Windows "Services" to restart it
Why this problem?
priviledged=true gets rid of the docker: command not found problem
However, docker:dind now requires TLS certs (whatever they are). If you are happy with an older docker version then you can use OPTION 1. If you want the latest you need to setup Gitlab CLI to use them which is OPTION 2. J.E.S.U.S loves you :)
For more info ... https://about.gitlab.com/blog/2019/07/31/docker-in-docker-with-docker-19-dot-03

Answer 3

Problem here is that node docker image does not embed docker binaries.
Two possibilities :
split stages to two jobs. One using node images for quality and test, one using docker image for building and deploying. See jobs documentation.
build a custom docker image that embed both node and docker and use this image to build your repo.
Note that in both case you will have to enable docker inside your agent. See documentation.