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I run a full Linux desktop in Docker just because I can

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Re: I run a full Linux desktop in Docker just because I can

#21

Post by cpuguy83 »

k_bx wrote: post #2

I develop my apps in the most possible native way I can: deb packages, apt repo, systemd, journald etc. however I would like to also be able to run it in docker/vm. Is there a good systemd-in-docker solution for this to basically not run anything differently and not have to maintain two sets of systems?

https://github.com/Azure/dalec

Build system packages and containers from those packages for a given target distro.

Behind the scenes it uses buildkit, so it's no extra stuff you need, just docker (or any buildkit daemon).

Re: I run a full Linux desktop in Docker just because I can

#22

Post by NikolaNovak »

teraflop wrote: post #12
treve wrote: post #8

On Windows, doesn't this technically mean OP is running Linux inside a Linux VM inside Windows? From what I understand Docker is Linux tech and to use it anywhere else a (small) Linux VM is required. If true, I would just dispense with the extra layer and just run a Linux VM. Not to discourage experimentation though!

Almost. For one thing, Docker is not really "Linux inside Linux". It uses Linux kernel features to isolate the processes inside a container from those outside. But there is only one Linux kernel which is shared by both the container and its host (within the Linux VM, in this case). For another, running Linux containers in a Linux VM on Windows is one (common) way that Docker can work. But it also supports running Win…

I thought docker only supports windows as a host if you enable wsl, in which case you're running on hyper v and Linux kernel as part of wsl2, so absolutely Linux tech on a Linux vm on Windows... Am I wrong?

Re: I run a full Linux desktop in Docker just because I can

#23

Post by sprinkly-dust »

lostlogin wrote: post #14
treve wrote: post #8

On Windows, doesn't this technically mean OP is running Linux inside a Linux VM inside Windows? From what I understand Docker is Linux tech and to use it anywhere else a (small) Linux VM is required. If true, I would just dispense with the extra layer and just run a Linux VM. Not to discourage experimentation though!

Isn’t this the case on macOS too? I desperately wish I could run docker properly (CLI) on the Mac rather than use docker desktop, and while we are making a dream list, can I just run Ubuntu on the Mac mini?

It might not be Ubuntu but Asahi Linux runs Fedora pretty well on M2 Pro and older Apple Silicon Mac Minis: https://asahilinux.org/fedora/#device-support

Re: I run a full Linux desktop in Docker just because I can

#24

Post by eventualhorizon »

lostlogin wrote: post #14
treve wrote: post #8

On Windows, doesn't this technically mean OP is running Linux inside a Linux VM inside Windows? From what I understand Docker is Linux tech and to use it anywhere else a (small) Linux VM is required. If true, I would just dispense with the extra layer and just run a Linux VM. Not to discourage experimentation though!

Isn’t this the case on macOS too? I desperately wish I could run docker properly (CLI) on the Mac rather than use docker desktop, and while we are making a dream list, can I just run Ubuntu on the Mac mini?

I’ve been using colima for cli docker on my arm mac. It’s pretty straightfirward using homebrew.

Re: I run a full Linux desktop in Docker just because I can

#25

Post by nine_k »

happyman wrote: post #19

I use this https://www.reddit.com/r/selfhosted/comments/13e25l9/tutoria... My clients are a rpi 4 and an older ipad. Sometimes use an Android phone as well.Works really well.

> Google acts as a meet-me point and also provides the authentication mechanisms including MFA.

On one hand, it made me chuckle a bit. On the other hand, it could be reasonable in many scenarios.

Re: I run a full Linux desktop in Docker just because I can

#26

Post by gregoryl »

NikolaNovak wrote: post #22
teraflop wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Almost. For one thing, Docker is not really "Linux inside Linux". It uses Linux kernel features to isolate the processes inside a container from those outside. But there is only one Linux kernel which is shared by both the container and its host (within the Linux VM, in this case). For another, running Linux containers in a Linux VM on Windows is one (common) way that Docker can work. But it also supports running Win…

I thought docker only supports windows as a host if you enable wsl, in which case you're running on hyper v and Linux kernel as part of wsl2, so absolutely Linux tech on a Linux vm on Windows... Am I wrong?

Docker supports either hyper-v, or wsl2 as a host for the Linux kernel - they generally push people towards wsl2. I vaguely recall wsl2 uses a subset of hyper-v the name of which escapes me atm.

Re: I run a full Linux desktop in Docker just because I can

#27

Post by nine_k »

NikolaNovak wrote: post #22
teraflop wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Almost. For one thing, Docker is not really "Linux inside Linux". It uses Linux kernel features to isolate the processes inside a container from those outside. But there is only one Linux kernel which is shared by both the container and its host (within the Linux VM, in this case). For another, running Linux containers in a Linux VM on Windows is one (common) way that Docker can work. But it also supports running Win…

I thought docker only supports windows as a host if you enable wsl, in which case you're running on hyper v and Linux kernel as part of wsl2, so absolutely Linux tech on a Linux vm on Windows... Am I wrong?

You are. You can run Docker for Windows, and run Windows binaries in reasonably isolated containers, without involving Linux at all [1]. Much like you run Linux containers on Linux without involving Windows.

It's Docker Desktop what assumes WSL; Docker engine does not. Also, you seem to need Windows Server; IDK if it can be made to work on a Pro version.

[1]: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/virtualization/windowscont...

Re: I run a full Linux desktop in Docker just because I can

#28

Post by isomorphic »

eventualhorizon wrote: post #24
lostlogin wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Isn’t this the case on macOS too? I desperately wish I could run docker properly (CLI) on the Mac rather than use docker desktop, and while we are making a dream list, can I just run Ubuntu on the Mac mini?

I’ve been using colima for cli docker on my arm mac. It’s pretty straightfirward using homebrew.

Colima is great. However, in the upcoming macOS 26 Tahoe, and mostly in macOS 15 Sequoia, Apple is beginning to provide a first-party solution:

https://github.com/apple/container

I've been experimenting with it in macOS 15, and I was able to replace Colima entirely for my purposes. Running container images right off of Docker Hub, without Docker / Podman / etc.

(And yes, it is using a small Linux VM run under Apple's HyperKit.)

Re: I run a full Linux desktop in Docker just because I can

#29

Post by yjftsjthsd-h »

mook wrote: post #20

Does anybody have a good writeup/tutorial on doing similar things with Wayland? From my limited knowledge that might be with RDP instead, but there hasn't been anything more distilled as far as I know? I've also done xpra in docker before; that's always felt as hacky as it sounds though.

I don't use it much, but I've glued together sway+wayvnc+novnc in a container and it worked fine (exposing both raw VNC and the webified novnc interface).

Re: I run a full Linux desktop in Docker just because I can

#30

Post by Cieric »

yjftsjthsd-h wrote: post #29
mook wrote: post #20

Does anybody have a good writeup/tutorial on doing similar things with Wayland? From my limited knowledge that might be with RDP instead, but there hasn't been anything more distilled as far as I know? I've also done xpra in docker before; that's always felt as hacky as it sounds though.

I don't use it much, but I've glued together sway+wayvnc+novnc in a container and it worked fine (exposing both raw VNC and the webified novnc interface).

That sounds useful, do you have the Dockerfile for it pushed anywhere?
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