dev setup

How to setup a new development environment

Prerequisites

Before starting, make sure the following tools are installed:

• Git
• Docker Desktop
• Visual Studio Code
• VS Code Extensions
  • Dev Containers
  • Docker

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Step 1: Install Git

1. Download Git from: https://git-scm.com/downloads
2. Verify the installation:

   git --version

Step 2: Install Docker Desktop

Download Docker Desktop from https://www.docker.com/products/docker-desktop

1. Install and launch Docker Desktop.
2. Verify the installation:

   docker --version
   

Step 3: Install Visual Studio Code

1. Download Visual Studio Code from https://code.visualstudio.com/
2. Install the following extensions:

• Dev Containers
• Docker

Step 4: Create and Clone a GitHub Repository

1. Log in to GitHub and create a new repository.
2. Copy the repository URL.
3. Clone the repository to your local machine:

   git clone https://github.com/your-username/your-repo-name.git

   cd your-repo-name

Step 5: Add a Dev Container Configuration

1. In the project root directory, create a folder named .devcontainer
2. Inside this folder, create a file named devcontainer.json
3. Depending on what kind of development you plan to do, select the images and extensions you would with to use for your environment. In this example, I am setting up a C# development environment:

Step 6: Open the Project in a Dev Container

1. Open the project folder in VS Code.
2. Press Ctrl + Shift + P to open the Command Palette.
3. Select Dev Containers: Reopen in Container.

VS Code will build and start the containerized environment.

Step 7: Verify the Development Environment

After the container starts, verify the setup:

git status
docker ps

All commands should execute successfully inside the container.

Step 8: Commit and Push Changes to GitHub

1. Stage all changes:

   git add .

2. Commit the changes:

   git commit -m "Setup .devcontainer"

3. Push the changes to GitHub:

   git push origin main