Been a while... 👀 It's been a minute, hasn't it? I've been...busy, but I'm back with something that I think you'll find both useful and intriguing. While I was away, I stumbled upon a nifty trick that involves swapping Docker for in on VS Code. This isn't a step-by-step guide; it's more like sharing a cool discovery I made. So, let's get to it! Podman DevContainers A Quick Refresher on DevContainers 🏝 If you're new to the concept, DevContainers in VS Code are a way to containerize your development environment. This ensures that your setup is both portable and consistent, effectively eliminating the "it works on my machine" syndrome. Think of DevContainers as your very own or , but without needing the cloud. It's like having a sandbox, but your computer is the playground. You get to build your castles in an isolated space, keeping the rest of your system pristine. Codespace Gitpod The Podman Appeal 🎸 Switching gears to Podman, why would you want to replace Docker? Imagine Docker as the old, reliable minivan. It gets the job done, but it's not the sleekest. Podman is like the electric car that just rolled off the assembly line efficient, user-friendly, and secure. Docker has been the go-to containerization tool for years, but Podman is emerging as a strong alternative. Podman offers a few advantages: : Run containers without needing root privileges, enhancing security. . Rootless Containers Learn more about rootless containers : Better integration with Linux's init system, . For Linux users, this is a significant benefit. Podman's compatibility with offers better process management and orchestration. . Systemd Integration systemd systemd Learn more about systemd : Fully compatible with standards. Podman is , which means it adheres to industry standards for container images, making it easier to switch between different container technologies. . Follows Open Standards Open Container Initiative (OCI) OCI-compliant Learn more about OCI So, if you're looking to break free from Docker's grasp, Podman is worth considering. The Challenge: VS Code Loves Docker Here's the hiccup: VS Code's DevContainers extension is tightly coupled with Docker. When you try to use Podman, VS Code throws a fit and keeps asking you to install Docker. That's the issue we're going to solve today. The Solution: Trick VS Code with a Shell Script macOS Step 1: Install Podman First things first, you'll need to install Podman. On a Mac, you can use : Homebrew brew install podman Step 2: Initialize and Start Podman Machine Before using Podman, you need to initialize and start a Podman machine: podman machine init
podman machine start Step 3: Create a Shell Script VS Code is looking for a command named . We'll give it what it wants, but we'll secretly redirect it to . docker podman Create a new shell script and name it : docker sudo nano /usr/local/bin/docker In the script, add the following lines: #!/bin/bash
exec podman "$@" Save the file and exit the text editor. Step 4: Make the Script Executable Now, make the script executable: sudo chmod +x /usr/local/bin/docker Step 5: Restart VS Code Close and reopen VS Code to apply the changes. It should now be none the wiser, happily using Podman instead of Docker. Linux Step 1: Install Podman Open your terminal and run the following command to install Podman: sudo apt install -y podman Steps 2-5: Follow the same steps as for macOS Windows Step 1: Install Podman for Windows Download and install Podman from the . official site Step 2: Create a Batch File Create a batch file named to act as an alias for Podman: docker.bat @echo off
podman %* Place this batch file in a directory that's in your system's . PATH Option 1: Use an Existing Directory in PATH Open a Command Prompt and type to see the directories currently in your . echo %PATH% PATH Choose an existing directory that you have write access to, such as . C:\Users\YourUsername\bin Save or move your file into that directory. docker.bat Option 2: Create a New Directory and Add It to PATH Create a new directory where you want to store your batch files. For example, . C:\batch_files Move your file into this new directory. docker.bat To add this directory to your , right-click on 'This PC' or 'Computer' on your desktop or File Explorer, and choose . PATH Properties On the left-hand side, click on . Advanced system settings Click on the button near the bottom right. Environment Variables Under the 'System variables' section, find and select the variable, then click on . Path Edit Click on and add the path to your new directory, . New C:\batch_files Click on all the dialog boxes to save your changes. OK Verify the Setup To verify that the batch file is accessible: Open a new Command Prompt window (important, as existing windows won't pick up the change). Type and hit Enter. If everything is set up correctly, this should now execute Podman due to the aliasing in your file. docker docker.bat By following these steps, you ensure that the batch file is in a directory listed in your , making it accessible from any command prompt window. PATH Step 3: Restart VS Code Close and reopen VS Code to apply the changes. Wrapping Up There you have ita Podman-powered DevContainer in VS Code, right on your local machine. It's like having a VIP pass to a more secure and efficient coding environment. Whether you're a newcomer or a seasoned developer, I hope you find this as useful as I did. So go ahead, give Podman a spin, and bring a little more freedom to your containerized development environments. Bye! Also published . here

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