> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://tally.wharflab.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# tally/max-lines

> Enforces maximum number of lines in a Dockerfile.

Enforces maximum number of lines in a Dockerfile.

| Property | Value              |
| -------- | ------------------ |
| Severity | Error              |
| Category | Maintainability    |
| Default  | Enabled (50 lines) |

## Description

Limits Dockerfile size to encourage modular builds. Enabled by default with a 50-line limit (P90 of analyzed public Dockerfiles).

Large Dockerfiles are harder to maintain, review, and debug. This rule encourages:

* Breaking complex builds into multi-stage patterns
* Using base images for common dependencies
* Keeping build logic modular

## Options

| Option             | Type    | Default | Description                      |
| ------------------ | ------- | ------- | -------------------------------- |
| `max`              | integer | 50      | Maximum lines allowed            |
| `skip-blank-lines` | boolean | true    | Exclude blank lines from count   |
| `skip-comments`    | boolean | true    | Exclude comment lines from count |

## Examples

### Bad

```dockerfile theme={null}
# A 100+ line Dockerfile with everything in one file
FROM ubuntu:22.04
RUN apt-get update && apt-get install -y \
    build-essential \
    curl \
    # ... 50 more packages ...
    vim
# ... 80 more lines of setup ...
```

### Good

```dockerfile theme={null}
# Base image with common dependencies
FROM myorg/base:1.0

# Application-specific setup only
COPY requirements.txt .
RUN pip install -r requirements.txt

COPY . .
CMD ["python", "app.py"]
```

## Configuration

```toml theme={null}
[rules.tally.max-lines]
severity = "warning"
max = 100
skip-blank-lines = true
skip-comments = true
```

## CLI Flags

```bash theme={null}
tally lint --max-lines 100 --skip-blank-lines --skip-comments Dockerfile
```