Daemon Labs - Workshop Prerequisites

We try to keep prerequisites to a minimum, but please run through these items before attending any of our workshops to ensure a smooth start.

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1. GitHub Account

Goal: Ensure you have access to the workshop code repositories.

If you don't already have one, please sign up for GitHub.

Note

We will be cloning repositories directly from GitHub during the workshop, so a valid account is required.

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2. System Setup (Select Your OS)

Goal: Configure your operating system with the correct Container Engine and Git tools.

Please follow the instructions for your specific operating system below.

🍎 macOS Users

1. Install Command-Line Tools (Git)

Open your terminal (Command+Space, type "Terminal") and run the following command:

git --version

• If a pop-up appears: Click "Install". This automatically sets up Git and necessary system tools.
• If you see a version number: You are already set.

Tip

The installation pop-up might open behind your terminal window.
Move your window to check if it's hiding there!

2. Install Container Engine (Docker) for Mac

• Option A (Standard): Download and install Docker Desktop for Mac.
• Option B (License Friendly): If you cannot use Docker Desktop due to licensing, install Rancher Desktop.

Important

If you choose Rancher Desktop, ensure you select "dockerd (moby)" as the container engine during setup.

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🪟 Windows Users

Warning

We require WSL2 (Windows Subsystem for Linux) for this workshop.
PowerShell alone will not work for the exercises.

1. Install WSL2

Open PowerShell as Administrator and run:

wsl --install

Restart your computer if prompted.
This will install the Ubuntu Linux environment.

2. Install Container Engine (Docker) for Windows

• Option A (Standard): Download Docker Desktop for Windows.
  • In Settings > General, ensure "Use the WSL 2 based engine" is checked.
  • In Settings > Resources > WSL Integration, ensure "Ubuntu" is toggled ON.
• Option B (License Friendly): Install Rancher Desktop.
  • During setup, select "dockerd (moby)" as the engine.
  • Enable WSL access for your Ubuntu distribution in the settings.

3. Verify Git

Open your Ubuntu terminal (search "Ubuntu" in the Start menu) and run:

git --version

Note

Git is usually pre-installed on WSL.
If it is missing, run sudo apt update && sudo apt install git.

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🐧 Linux Users

1. Install Git

Run the following command (or your distro equivalent):

sudo apt install git

2. Install Docker

Follow the official instructions for Docker Engine.

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3. Code Editor

Goal: Set up an IDE that can communicate with Docker and your WSL environment.

We recommend Visual Studio Code for its strong Docker integration, but Cursor is a fully compatible alternative.

Option A: Visual Studio Code (Recommended)

1. Download & Install: Visual Studio Code.
2. Install Extensions: Open Visual Studio Code, click the "Extensions" icon (square grid on the left), and install:
   • Docker (by Microsoft) - For container management.
   • WSL (by Microsoft) - Required for Windows users to edit files inside Linux.

Option B: Cursor (AI-Powered)

If you prefer Cursor, it works perfectly for this workshop.

Important

You must still install the Docker and WSL extensions mentioned above inside Cursor.

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4. Final Verification

Goal: Confirm all tools are installed and accessible from your terminal.

Before the workshop starts, please open your terminal (Windows users: use your Ubuntu terminal) and run these commands.

git --version
docker --version

You should see version numbers for both commands.

Warning

If docker --version fails, ensure your application (Docker Desktop or Rancher) is actually running!

Windows Users: If it fails inside Ubuntu, check your "WSL Integration" settings in Docker/Rancher to ensure Ubuntu is authorized.

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🎉 Ready to go

Your environment is now prepared for the workshop. See you there!