By default, Ubuntu or Debian based "apt" or "apt-get" system installs recommended but not suggested packages . By passing "--no-install-recommends" option, the user lets apt-get know not to consider recommended packages as a dependency to install. This results in smaller downloads and installation of packages which result in faster download and setup Refer to blog at [Ubuntu Blog](https://ubuntu.com/blog/we-reduced-our-docker-images-by-60-with-no-install-recommends)