C++ Development Docker Container

Automated Docker environment setup for C++ development with cross-platform support. Originally created for CS 3505 at the University of Utah, this tool provides a consistent development environment across macOS, Windows, and Linux.

Features

• Automated Setup: One-script installation creates necessary file structure and Docker configuration
• Persistent Storage: Automatic volume mounting for saving coursework between sessions
• Complete Toolchain: Pre-configured with make, gcc, gdb, git, vim/nano, and bash-completion
• Cross-Platform: Works seamlessly on macOS, Windows (via WSL), and Linux
• VSCode Integration: Built-in Remote-Containers support for streamlined development

Prerequisites

All Platforms

• Docker Desktop
• VSCode
• Remote-Containers Extension

Windows Only

• WSL (Windows Subsystem for Linux)
• CPU virtualization enabled in BIOS

Note: The setup.ps1 script will install WSL automatically, but you must enable CPU virtualization in your BIOS first.

Installation

Windows

1. Install Docker Desktop, VSCode, and Remote-Containers extension
2. Enable CPU virtualization in BIOS settings
3. Run the setup script in PowerShell:

   .\setup.ps1

4. VSCode will launch automatically. Press F1 and run:

   Remote-Containers: Open Configuration File...
   

5. Select From 'Dockerfile'
6. Click "Reopen in Container" when prompted

macOS

1. Install Docker Desktop, VSCode, and Remote-Containers extension
2. Make the setup script executable:

   chmod +x setup.sh

3. Run the setup script:

   ./setup.sh

4. VSCode will launch automatically. Press F1 and run:

   Remote-Containers: Open Configuration File...
   

5. Select From 'Dockerfile'
6. Click "Reopen in Container" when prompted

Linux

1. Install Docker Desktop (if necessary), VSCode, and Remote-Containers extension
2. Make the setup script executable:

   chmod +x setup.sh

3. Run the setup script:

   ./setup.sh

4. VSCode will launch automatically. Press F1 and run:

   Remote-Containers: Open Configuration File...
   

5. Select From 'Dockerfile'
6. Click "Reopen in Container" when prompted

Verification

To confirm you're working inside the Docker container, open a terminal in VSCode. You should see:

root@<container-id>

Working with the Container

File Persistence

The setup script creates an assignments folder at:

• Windows: Documents\DockerImages\assignments
• macOS/Linux: ~/Documents/DockerImages/assignments

All files saved in this folder persist between container sessions.

Reopening the Container

1. Open the assignments folder in VSCode
2. Press F1 and run: Remote-Containers: Open Configuration File...
3. Select From 'Dockerfile'
4. Verify you're in the container by checking the terminal prompt

Important Notes

⚠️ Do not modify the Dockerfile or .devcontainer folder contents
✅ Always save work inside the assignments folder for persistence
🔍 Verify container status by checking the terminal prompt shows root@<container-id>

Included Development Tools

• Compiler: GCC
• Debugger: GDB
• Build System: Make
• Version Control: Git
• Editors: Vim, Nano
• Shell: Bash with completion support

Topics

linux docker cpp vscode dockerfile docker-image shell-scripts

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Happy Coding! 🚀