Beginner's series to Dev Containers free video course
Tags: beginners, tutorial, programming, python
Published: 2021-02-16 16:32:22

---
title: Beginner's series to Dev Containers free video course
published: true
date: 2021-02-11 14:59:07 UTC
tags: beginner, tutorial, programming, python
canonical_url: https://burkeholland.github.io/posts/beginners-series-remote-containers/
---

> "Knowledge isn't free. You have to pay attention."
<figcaption>
— Richard Feynman
</figcaption>

Ok, but all “play on words” aside, knowledge **is** free. That’s the key contribution of the internet, isn’t it? That all knowledge is now essentially free? And this is kind of a recent development. It used to cost quite a bit to learn the skills that will make you successful. I mean, there is still a [700 billion dollar industry](https://nces.ed.gov/programs/coe/indicator_cud.asp#:~:text=In%202017%E2%80%9318%2C%20total%20revenues,at%20private%20for%2Dprofit%20institutions.) built on selling you knowledge.

Even better, you can learn what you _need_ instead of things that you _might_ need. It’s been several decades and I have not once used “[Slope Intercept Form](https://www.khanacademy.org/math/algebra/x2f8bb11595b61c86:forms-of-linear-equations/x2f8bb11595b61c86:intro-to-slope-intercept-form/a/introduction-to-slope-intercept-form)”. NOT. ONCE. Well, that’s a lie, I had to use it to help my kid with his homework at which point I Googled it. Like an adult.

But this post is not a shot at Algebra (I love you math people - really I do), this is about MORE free knowledge. Specficially, an 8 part video series on how to use “Development Containers”.

> If you prefer reading to videos (you do you) you can get this whole series as [step-by-step tutorial on Microsoft Learn](https://docs.microsoft.com/learn/modules/use-docker-container-dev-env-vs-code/?WT.mc_id=devcloud-11496-buhollan).

## Development Containers

Development Containers (or Dev Containers) are just Docker containers. But we add a little [VS Code](https://code.visualstudio.com/download?WT.mc_id=devcloud-11496-buhollan) magic in the form of the [Remote - Containers extension](https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=ms-vscode-remote.remote-containers&WT.mc_id=devcloud-11496-buhollan) that allows you to develop _inside_ of the container right from the editor.

Now why would you do this? Because once you define a container definition for a project, you can check it in to source as a config file. Then any developer could immediately spin up the right dev environment with _zero_ configuration. No Python install. No copy/paste cryptic terminal commands from Stack Overflow.

So how does this work? I’m glad you asked! Or didn’t ask! Either way, queue up episode 1…

### Episode 1:

Start your learning with developing in a Docker container in Visual Studio Code. Learn what it means to configure a container-based development environment, why you might want to develop in a container in VS Code, and what lies ahead in the rest of this video series.

{% youtube 61M2takIKl8 %}

### Episode 2:

How to install the Remote - Containers extension in Visual Studio Code and see how it works.

{% youtube ACIwcUXfNBI %}

### Episode 3:

How to add a dev container to your project in Visual Studio Code using the Remote - Containers extension.

{% youtube yucjVHwFO0Y %}

### Episode 4:

How to run your configured project in a dev container.

{% youtube yucjVHwFO0Y %}

### Episode 5:

How to forward a port from your container to your host machine so that you can access the app in the browser.

{% youtube 3iTZFxfzGl8 %}

### Episode 6:

How to customize your dev container configuration.

{% youtube YtiAUoh2U9A %}

### Episode 7:

How to install additional software in your Development container.

{% youtube dfj7WxfC_9M %}

### Episode 8:

Wrap-up and where to go to learn more about Remote Development.

{% youtube oKXkZaAn-IA %}

## Enjoy your free knowledge

We hope you enjoy this series on Development Containers. You can check out the [full playlist on YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=61M2takIKl8&list=PLj6YeMhvp2S5G_X6ZyMc8gfXPMFPg3O31) or [Microsoft Developer Studios](https://dev.azure.com/devrel/Cloud%20Advocacy/_boards/board/t/Developer%20Cloud/Work%20Items?WT.mc_id=devcloud-11496-buhollan).