FROM node:13.13.0-stretch-slim #Argument that is passed from docer-compose.yaml file ARG NODE_PORT #Echo the argument to check passed argument loaded here correctly RUN echo "Argument port is : $NODE_PORT" # Create app directory WORKDIR /usr/src/app #COPY . . COPY . . # Install app dependencies # A wildcard is used to ensure both package.json AND package-lock.json are copied # where available (npm@5+) RUN npm install #In my case my app binds to port NODE_PORT so you'll use the EXPOSE instruction to have it mapped by the docker daemon: EXPOSE ${NODE_PORT} CMD npm run dev