ERROR cicd build_error ai_generated true

ERROR: cache export feature is currently not supported for docker driver

ID: cicd/docker-buildx-cache-miss

Also available as: JSON · Markdown
93%Fix Rate
92%Confidence
80Evidence
2023-01-01First Seen

Version Compatibility

VersionStatusIntroducedDeprecatedNotes
any active — — —

Root Cause

Docker buildx cache-to/cache-from options fail because the default 'docker' driver does not support cache export. The docker-container or remote driver must be used to enable buildx advanced caching features such as GitHub Actions cache backend or registry-based cache.

generic

Workarounds

  1. 95% success Use docker/setup-buildx-action to create a buildx builder with the docker-container driver 
    Add 'uses: docker/setup-buildx-action@v3' as a step before docker/build-push-action. This creates a new builder instance using the docker-container driver which supports all cache export features. Then use cache-to: type=gha and cache-from: type=gha in the build-push-action.
  2. 88% success Use inline cache with registry-based caching as a simpler alternative 
    After setting up buildx with docker-container driver, use 'cache-from: type=registry,ref=ghcr.io/org/repo:buildcache' and 'cache-to: type=inline' in docker/build-push-action. Inline cache embeds cache metadata in the image itself, which is simpler but only caches the final stage.
  3. 92% success Use GitHub Actions cache backend (type=gha) for full multi-stage layer caching 
    With docker/setup-buildx-action configured, set 'cache-from: type=gha' and 'cache-to: type=gha,mode=max' in docker/build-push-action. The 'mode=max' ensures all layers (not just final stage) are cached. This uses the GitHub Actions cache storage automatically.

Dead Ends

Common approaches that don't work:

  1. Add --cache-to and --cache-from flags to a regular docker build command 99% fail

    The classic 'docker build' command does not support buildx cache export/import flags. These flags require 'docker buildx build' with a compatible driver, not the legacy builder.

  2. Set DOCKER_BUILDKIT=1 and assume cache export will work with the default driver 95% fail

    DOCKER_BUILDKIT=1 enables BuildKit as the build engine but still uses the 'docker' driver, which does not support cache export. The driver type is what matters, not whether BuildKit is enabled.

  3. Attempt to use --cache-to=type=local without switching the buildx driver 99% fail

    All cache-to backends (local, registry, gha, inline) are blocked when using the docker driver. The error occurs before any cache type logic is evaluated because the driver itself lacks the capability.

Error Chain

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