Environment Setup

This exercise must be completed in a Docker container. There are two ways to get one:

1. Run Docker natively (preferred): this solution is faster in terms of performance, but requires a machine where you can install Docker (e.g., your own laptop, with administrator rights).
2. Use a GitHub Codespace: this solution only requires a web browser, which is useful on machines without administrator access (e.g., lab machines). However it is also slower, especially on the free student-accessible tier of Codespace.

Prefer solution 1 when possible; fall back to solution 2 only if you have no access to a machine with Docker.

Running Docker Natively

Installing Docker

Install the Docker container engine following the instructions here: Docker CE (command-line) on Linux, Docker Desktop on Windows/Mac.

Pulling and Launching the Container

Pull the exercise image (only needed once), then run it to get a shell inside the container:

$ docker pull olivierpierre/comp26020-lab
$ docker run -it olivierpierre/comp26020-lab

In another terminal, list running containers with:

$ docker ps

You can get an extra shell into a running container one with:

$ docker exec -it <container-id> /bin/bash

Exiting the initial shell (ontainer with docker run) will stop the container. To restart a stopped container and open a shell in it:

$ docker start <container-id>
$ docker exec -it <container-id> /bin/bash

docker ps -a lists all containers, including stopped ones, which is useful to find the ID of a previously stopped container. docker start runs the container in the background; stop it again with docker stop <container-id>.

Attaching VSCode to a Running Container

The exercise can be done from the command line (e.g., using editors such as vim/nano), but an IDE is more practical. Install the Dev Containers extension, open the Containers tab in VSCode, right-click a running container and choose Attach Visual Studio Code to open a new window connected to it.

Codespace Environment

This solution requires a GitHub student account.

On this repository’s page, click <> Code → Codespaces → + to launch a browser-based VSCode environment. The first launch takes a few minutes (pulling the container image); later launches are much faster. You can manage running instances from here.