Delphi Docker Demo

A demonstration project showcasing how to containerize a Delphi WebBroker application using Docker. This project serves as a practical example of running Delphi applications in containers, with a focus on cross-platform compatibility and modern deployment practices.

Features

• Simple WebBroker application with two endpoints:
  • Root endpoint (/): Serves a welcome page
  • Health endpoint (/health): Returns application health status in JSON format
• Logging system with configurable log levels
• Cross-platform support (Windows and Linux)
• Docker containerization with proper signal handling
• Automated Docker image building through post-build events
• Volume support for persistent logging

Prerequisites

• Delphi 11 or later
• Windows 10/11 with WSL2 installed
• Docker Desktop with WSL2 integration or Docker cli installed in WSL2

Project Structure

.
├── Linux64/                # Linux build output directory
│   └── Docker/             # Contains the Linux executable
├── WebModuleUnit1.pas      # Main web module with endpoints
├── LoggerU.pas             # Logging implementation
├── Dockerfile              # Docker configuration
└── build_docker_image.ps1  # PowerShell script for Docker build

Building and Running

Local Development

1. Open the project in Delphi IDE
2. Select the "Docker" build configuration
3. Build the project (F9 or Build > Build)
4. The post-build event will automatically:
   • Clean up old Docker resources
   • Build a new Docker image
   • Set up proper permissions

Running the Container

docker run -d -p 8080:8080 -v $(pwd)/logs:/app/logs --name=delphi-demo delphi-docker-demo:latest

Accessing the Application

• Main page: http://localhost:8080
• Health check: http://localhost:8080/health

Docker Image

The Docker image is available on DockerHub:

docker pull thony/delphi-docker-demo:latest

Logging

The application implements a basic logging system:

• Logs are written to the logs directory
• Logs can be persisted through Docker volumes

Development Notes

• The project uses a post-build PowerShell script to automate Docker image creation
• Signal handling is implemented for graceful container shutdown
• The application detects whether it's running in a container or interactive mode
• Cross-platform compatibility is maintained through conditional compilation

Contributing

Feel free to submit issues and enhancement requests!