Using Docker container in Visual Studio Code (VS Code)

You can’t directly open a directory from a Docker container in Visual Studio Code (VS Code) as if it were a local directory because the filesystem of the Docker container is isolated from your host machine. However, you can work with container files using a couple of different approaches that integrate Docker with VS Code:

1. Copy Files to/from Container

As previously described, you can use docker cp to copy files from the container to your local filesystem and then open them in VS Code. This method is straightforward but does not allow for real-time editing or synchronization between the local files and those inside the container.

2. Use Docker Volumes

If you need to work regularly with files in a container, consider using Docker volumes. Volumes can be shared between the host and the container, allowing changes to be synchronized in real-time. You can mount a local directory as a volume in the container when you start it:

docker run -v /path/on/host:/path/in/container -d container_image

Then, you can directly edit files in /path/on/host using VS Code, and the changes will be reflected inside the container.

3. Use Remote Development Extensions in VS Code

VS Code offers a more integrated solution with its Remote Development extensions, which allow you to connect to a variety of environments including Docker containers:

• Install the Remote Development Extension Pack: This pack includes extensions that allow you to work with Docker containers, among other remote environments.

  You can install it from the VS Code extension marketplace, or by searching for “Remote Development” in the extensions sidebar.

• Attach to a Running Container: If your container is already running, you can easily attach VS Code to it:

  1. Open the Command Palette (Ctrl+Shift+P or Cmd+Shift+P on macOS).
  2. Type and select “Remote-Containers: Attach to Running Container…”
  3. Choose the Docker container you want to work with.

• Open Folder in Container: After attaching to the container, you can open any folder within that container:

  1. Open the Command Palette again.
  2. Type and select “Remote-Containers: Open Folder in Container…”
  3. Navigate to the folder you want to work on.

This setup allows you to use VS Code as if you were working locally, but all operations (like running code, opening terminals, etc.) are executed inside the container. This approach is particularly powerful for development in consistent environments and is widely used in professional software development to mirror production environments.

Recommended Approach

For continuous development inside a Docker container, using the Remote Development extensions in VS Code is highly recommended. It offers a seamless development experience without the need to manually synchronize files or manage multiple copies of your project.