Installing and Running Visual Studio Code on Docker

Introduction

Docker has revolutionized the way developers build, ship, and run applications. Its containerization capabilities offer a lightweight and efficient solution to manage software dependencies and environments. On the other hand, visual Studio Code (VS Code) has become a go-to IDE for developers due to its versatility and robust features. Combining these two tools can supercharge your development workflow.

In this article, we will explore how to install and run Visual Studio Code inside a Docker container, step by step. By the end of this guide, you will also have a working example to get started.

1. Why Use Visual Studio Code with Docker?

Running Visual Studio Code within Docker offers several advantages:

• Consistent Development Environment: Ensures all team members use the same tools and configurations.
• Isolation: Keeps your local system clean by isolating your development environment.
• Portability: Develop anywhere by running Docker containers on different machines.
• Ease of Dependency Management: Containers come pre-configured with necessary tools.

This approach is especially beneficial when working with languages or frameworks requiring specific versions of tools.

2. Prerequisites

Before proceeding, make sure you have the following installed:

• Docker: Download and install Docker from Docker's official site.
• VS Code: Install Visual Studio Code on your local system.
• Remote Development Extension: Install the "Remote - Containers" extension in VS Code.

3. Prepare the Environment

In the PWD terminal:

1. Check Docker Installation Confirm that Docker is installed and running by typing:

   docker --version 

   This will display the installed Docker version.
   

2. Create a Working Directory 

   ​​​​​​​mkdir vscode-docker && cd vscode-docker

4. Create a Dockerfile

The Dockerfile defines the image configuration and the steps required to set up Visual Studio Code inside the container.

1. Create and Open a Dockerfile Use the nano editor to create a Dockerfile:

   vi Dockerfile

2. Add the Following Content to the Dockerfile

   FROM ubuntu:latest
   
   # Install prerequisites
   RUN apt-get update && apt-get install -y \
       curl \
       wget \
       sudo \
       build-essential
   
   # Install Code-Server (VS Code in the browser)
   RUN curl -fsSL https://code-server.dev/install.sh | sh
   
   # Expose port for Code-Server
   EXPOSE 8080
   
   # Start Code-Server on container launch
   CMD ["code-server", "--bind-addr", "0.0.0.0:8080", "--auth", "none"]
   

3. Save and Exit

   • Press Shift:wq Press Enter to save the file.
     

5. Build the Docker Image

1. Build the Docker image using the following command:

   docker build -t vscode-docker .

2. Wait for the build process to complete. This may take a few minutes as Docker installs all the required packages.

6. Run the Container

1. Run the Docker container and map port 8080 to access VS Code in the browser:

   docker run -d -p 8080:8080 vscode-docker

2. List the running containers to verify:

   docker ps

   You should see your vscode-docker container running.

7. Access Visual Studio Code

1. In the PWD terminal, click on the "Open Port" button at the top-right corner.
2. Enter 8080 in the port field and click "Open."
   
3. A new browser tab will open with the Visual Studio Code interface running inside the container.

8. Optional: Volume Mapping

To persist your files and settings, you can map a local directory to the container. Run the container with a volume:

docker run -d -p 8080:8080 -v $(pwd):/workspace vscode-docker

This maps the current directory to /workspace the container.

Conclusion

By following these steps, you can install and run Visual Studio Code on Play with Docker. This setup allows you to develop and test applications efficiently in a portable and isolated environment. Whether you're working with Node.js, Python, or any other technology, this workflow ensures consistency across projects.

Key Commands Summary

Command	Description
docker --version	Check the Docker installation version
mkdir vscode-docker && cd vscode-docker	Create a working directory
nano Dockerfile	Create and edit the Dockerfile
docker build -t vscode-docker .	Build the Docker image
docker run -d -p 8080:8080 vscode-docker	Run the VS Code container
docker ps	List running containers
docker exec -it <container-id> bash	Access the container’s shell