Docker Base Workspace

A dockerized Ubuntu 20.04 workspace template with Python 3.8 installed.

Table of Contents

• Quick Reference
• User Guides
  • Using Pre-built Images without Modification
  • Using as a Base Image
  • Build Images from Source Code
  • Build Images and Push to DockerHub
  • Common Instructions
• Create Your Own Docker Workspace
  • File Structure
  • User Account in Container
  • Install Packages
  • Uses of the Scripts in the Workspace

Quick Reference

• GitHub: https://github.com/Jench2103/docker-base-workspace
• Docker Hub: https://hub.docker.com/r/jench2103/docker-base-workspace

User Guides

In the GitHub repo, there is a script run which can help you manage the worspace easily. Note that if you are working on Windows systems, use the following commands in Bash-like shells such as Git Bash.

$ git clone https://github.com/Jench2103/docker-base-workspace.git

$ cd /path/to/docker-base-workspace
$ bash run

    This script will help you manage the Docker Base Workspace.
    You can execute this script with the following options.

    pull            : pull the latest official image from DockerHub
    build           : build a new image on this machine
    build-registry  : build images with specified platforms and push to DockerHub
    start           : pull and enter the workspace
    stop            : stop and exit the workspace
    prune           : remove the docker image
    repull          : remove the existing image and pull the latest one to apply new changes
    rebuild         : remove the existing image and build a new one to apply new changes

Using Pre-built Images without Modification

bash run start

Use this command to close and remove a running container.

bash run stop

Using as a Base Image

Import this image into your dockerfile with the following statement.

FROM jench2103/docker-base-workspace

Build Images from Source Code

bash run build

To remove an existing image for further rebuilding, use the following command. Note that this command will stop existing containers before removing images.

bash run prune

Build Images and Push to DockerHub

bash run build-registry

Common Instructions

• The bash run start command can perform different tasks for you depending on the actual situation.
  • First execution: Pull the Docker image, create a container, and enter the terminal.
  • Image exists but no running container: Create a container and enter the terminal.
  • Container is running: Enter the terminal.
• Users can put all permanent files in ~/projects of the workspace, which is mounted to docker-base-workspace/projects on the host machine.
• The container won't be stopped after type exit in the last terminal of the workspace. Users should also use bash run stop command on the host machine to stop and remove the container.

Create Your Own Docker Workspace

This repository is a GitHub template. Feel free to create your own Docker Workspace repository by clicking the Use this template button, then customize the setup and configurations to meet your requirements according to the following descriptions. For the detail about GitHub template, see Creating a repository from a template.

File Structure

docker-base-workspace/
├── Dockerfile
├── config/
│   └── requirements.txt
├── run
└── scripts/
    ├── .bashrc
    ├── login.sh
    ├── start.sh
    └── startup.sh

User Account in Container

• The User ID (UID) and Group ID (GID) of the default user in the container will be synchronized as host operating system.
• The User Name will be synchronized only if the image is built by your own machine.
• The Group Name would not be synchronized because some operating systems (e.g. MS Windows) does not have this information.

Install Packages

• System packages: Customize the apt-get install commands in Dockerfile. Use flag -qq to make installation processes quiet and assume yes for questions by default.
• Python packages: Add package names (and versions) into config/requirements.txt.

Uses of the Scripts in the Workspace

• scripts/start.sh: Execute when the container start, should be blocked before reach the end.
• scripts/login.sh: Execute whenever the user start new bash terminals, must make sure it can reach the end.
• scripts/startup.sh: Execute when the user type 'startup' anywhere in the container.