Using the Alpine Docker image

Alpine Linux is a widely used lightweight Docker image favored for its small size and efficiency, making it suitable for creating custom Docker images. Although it is popular, users should be aware of its reliance on the musl C standard library instead of the more common glibc, which can lead to compatibility issues with some third-party tools and libraries, notably affecting Python builds and certain container applications like those using Calamari. Best practices for optimizing Alpine-based images include removing unnecessary cached package lists using the `apk add --no-cache` command and employing multi-stage builds to separate development and runtime dependencies, which can significantly reduce image size and improve performance. Despite potential compatibility challenges, Alpine remains a practical choice for Docker images due to its efficiency and the flexibility it offers through advanced features like virtual packages.