Benchmark Report: Docker Builds with Semaphore vs. Docker Hub

The text explores the efficiency of Docker image builds using Semaphore versus Docker Hub, focusing on reducing build times to improve productivity in continuous integration (CI) workflows. Through benchmarking, it is demonstrated that building images on Semaphore is significantly faster, achieving up to 7.5 times speed improvement over Docker Hub when using cached builds, and 3.4 times faster without cache. This speed advantage translates into significant time savings, allowing teams to integrate more frequently and reduce the risk of conflicts, enhancing overall productivity. The analysis highlights that while Docker Hub offers convenient autobuild features, it often exceeds the ideal 10-minute integration time, whereas Semaphore provides almost immediate build starts and faster completion, especially when leveraging more powerful machine types in its pro plan. The findings suggest that optimizing CI/CD processes with faster build tools like Semaphore can lead to substantial time and cost savings, which are essential for maintaining high-velocity product development.