docs: add comprehensive dev containers documentation with examples #18582

EdwardAngert · 2025-06-25T16:16:25Z

EdwardAngert · 2025-06-27T20:24:34Z

I had some trouble getting the example working with my barebones deployment, and I think it's because of the docker-in-docker requirement

I'm going to have to come back for some more testing

bpmct · 2025-06-27T21:30:57Z

docs/admin/templates/managing-templates/devcontainers/index.md

@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-# Dev containers
+# Envbuilder Dev Containers


Why does it lead with Envbuilder?

we need to decide what to do with this set of docs - I re-titled them and made some quick changes to sections to be envbuilder-specific
we aren't removing envbuilder with this PR, so I want to strip these down as much as possible, but don't want to remove and redirect the docs just yet.

Should we add some sort of notice to this page that users should pick the new devcontainer approach instead of envbuilder?

docs/admin/templates/managing-templates/devcontainers/index.md

docs/admin/templates/extending-templates/dev-containers-envbuilder.md

mafredri

I didn't quite get through everything, but here's some initial feedback.

docs/admin/templates/extending-templates/devcontainers.md

mafredri · 2025-06-30T07:41:48Z

docs/admin/templates/extending-templates/devcontainers.md


 ```terraform
-resource "coder_devcontainer" "my-repository" {
+resource "coder_devcontainer" "project" {


I'm glad you used the same name (project) here and in the workspace folder. We should potentially call it out that this name is how users will be connecting to the devcontainer (e.g. ssh://project.<workspace>.me.coder).

I'm trying to standardize the examples and configs we use so that someone using a combination of docs can have a linear/consistent experience. At some point, I think it'd be good to have a heavily commented set of examples that we can use both for teaching and for a docs style guide.

For now, I just added a comment on this line

docs/admin/templates/extending-templates/devcontainers.md

mafredri · 2025-06-30T08:23:06Z

docs/admin/templates/extending-templates/devcontainers.md

+  base_dir = "/home/coder/project"
+}
+
+resource "coder_devcontainer" "project" {


It's unfortunate folder_name can't be used here. 😔 I'm really of two-minds using this for the sub-agent name when present but it is what it is.

We support devcontainer.json customization to change the name on a per-project basis.

we don't really have that documented, but I think we should def add it in the next iteration

adding: it would be great as part of or in addition to the Agent naming section

mafredri · 2025-06-30T08:38:54Z

docs/admin/templates/extending-templates/devcontainers.md

+
+### Disable dev containers integration
+
+To disable the dev containers integration in your workspace, add the `CODER_AGENT_DEVCONTAINERS_ENABLE` environment variable to your existing `coder_agent` block:


This is incorrect, the env must be set before the agent is started, i.e. on the Docker container. We could potentially implement this behavior but it's currently not supported (/cc @DanielleMaywood thoughts?)

changed to

To disable the dev containers integration in your workspace, set the `CODER_AGENT_DEVCONTAINERS_ENABLE= "false"` environment variable.

docs/user-guides/devcontainers/index.md

Co-authored-by: Mathias Fredriksson <[email protected]>

EdwardAngert · 2025-07-01T18:10:24Z

moved to "ready for review" while I tech test the remaining examples

DanielleMaywood

I'm slightly concerned at how many things were subtly wrong and that I haven't caught them all.

DanielleMaywood · 2025-07-02T08:43:45Z

docs/user-guides/devcontainers/working-with-dev-containers.md

 ```console
-coder ssh --container keen_dijkstra my-workspace
+coder ssh --container my-container-name my-workspace
 ```

+Remember to replace:
+
+- `my-container-name` with the dev container agent name.
+- `my-workspace` with your workspace's name.
+
 > [!NOTE]
 >
-> SSH access is not yet compatible with the `coder config-ssh` command for use
-> with OpenSSH. You would need to manually modify your SSH config to include the
-> `--container` flag in the `ProxyCommand`.
+> Starting with Coder v2.24.0, `coder config-ssh` works with dev containers.
+> If you’re using an older Coder version, add `--container <name>` to the
+> `ProxyCommand` entry in your SSH config.


I feel like this section could be worded better. It gives priority to the old pattern using a hidden CLI flag that was only made available during early access.

I believe we should instead focus entirely on how to do it with the current agent-based approach.

DanielleMaywood · 2025-07-02T08:46:50Z

docs/user-guides/devcontainers/working-with-dev-containers.md

+Coder automatically forwards any port declared in `appPort`, `forwardPorts`,
+or exposed by `docker-compose.yml`.


Is this correct @mafredri?

Nope, called this out in another section I believe.

docs/user-guides/devcontainers/troubleshooting-dev-containers.md

docs/admin/templates/extending-templates/devcontainers.md

docs/admin/templates/extending-templates/dev-containers-envbuilder.md

docs/admin/templates/extending-templates/advanced-dev-containers.md

Co-authored-by: Danielle Maywood <[email protected]>

EdwardAngert · 2025-07-02T22:12:09Z

docs/admin/templates/extending-templates/devcontainers.md


-## Complete Template Example
+   For example, if the path is `/home/coder/some/project` and `project` is taken, then the agent is `some-project`.


I hope I'm reading #18513 right

Yep that's exactly right

EdwardAngert added 3 commits June 23, 2025 17:40

remove ea feature status

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add advanced dev container doc

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update devcontainers

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EdwardAngert self-assigned this Jun 25, 2025

EdwardAngert added the docs Area: coder.com/docs label Jun 25, 2025

EdwardAngert added 9 commits June 25, 2025 19:41

new workspace screenshot

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consistent and working examples

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edits; prep advanced doc

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Merge branch 'main' into dev-container-ga

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advanced features

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better examples

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init user-facing update

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remove coder_agent_devcontainers_enable requirement

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update features; add personal devcontainer file

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EdwardAngert force-pushed the dev-container-ga branch from 3506fa2 to 06d714c Compare June 27, 2025 15:42

EdwardAngert added 8 commits June 27, 2025 16:02

update troubleshooting

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add comparison doc; crosslink

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shorten title

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clarify envbuilder doc titles

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update envbuilder doc with dev container integration consideration

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update envbuilder add-devcontainer with dev container integration links

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envbuilder tweaks

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link fix

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EdwardAngert changed the title ~~docs: (draft) add comprehensive dev containers documentation with examples~~ docs: add comprehensive dev containers documentation with examples Jun 27, 2025

EdwardAngert added 5 commits June 27, 2025 17:20

tweak to devcontainer.local note

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ap title case

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leftover ea language

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update ssh note and example

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update example template

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EdwardAngert force-pushed the dev-container-ga branch from cafacc7 to cfcef3c Compare June 27, 2025 20:23

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EdwardAngert and others added 4 commits July 1, 2025 11:25

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Co-authored-by: Mathias Fredriksson <[email protected]>

Merge branch 'main' into dev-container-ga

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remove full examples; adjustments from review

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EdwardAngert marked this pull request as ready for review July 1, 2025 18:08

Merge branch 'main' into dev-container-ga

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EdwardAngert and others added 6 commits July 2, 2025 13:00

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Co-authored-by: Danielle Maywood <[email protected]>

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EdwardAngert commented Jul 2, 2025

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		### Disable dev containers integration

		To disable the dev containers integration in your workspace, add the `CODER_AGENT_DEVCONTAINERS_ENABLE` environment variable to your existing `coder_agent` block:

		Coder automatically forwards any port declared in `appPort`, `forwardPorts`,
		or exposed by `docker-compose.yml`.


		## Complete Template Example
		For example, if the path is `/home/coder/some/project` and `project` is taken, then the agent is `some-project`.

docs: add comprehensive dev containers documentation with examples #18582

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EdwardAngert commented Jun 25, 2025 •

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EdwardAngert commented Jul 1, 2025 •

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