One command. Full dev environment. Any project.
Stop wasting time setting up development environments. DevContainer Toolbox gives you a complete, consistent setup that works on Windows, Mac, and Linux.
📚 View Full Documentation | Getting Started | Available Tools
Before you start: Rancher Desktop (started and ready) and VS Code. On a work PC, get both from Company Portal (Self Service on a Mac). See Prerequisites.
1. Install — open the folder for your project and run the command for your computer:
Windows — in PowerShell (not "Run as administrator"):
irm https://raw.githubusercontent.com/helpers-no/devcontainer-toolbox/main/install.ps1 | iexMac / Linux — in Terminal:
curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/helpers-no/devcontainer-toolbox/main/install.sh | bashThis installs the dct-init command, then uses it to create a single devcontainer.json, install the Dev Containers extension in VS Code, and download the pre-built container image. If Rancher Desktop isn't running, it tells you and changes nothing.
Next time: in a new project folder, just type dct-init. The installer adds that command for you.
2. Open in VS Code and click "Reopen in Container" when prompted.
Done! The container starts in seconds. Run dev-setup to install tools.
28+ development tools ready to install with one click:
| Category | Tools |
|---|---|
| Development Tools | Bash, C/C++, C#, Fortran, Go, Java, PHP Laravel, Python, Rust, TypeScript, PowerShell |
| AI & Machine Learning Tools | Claude Code |
| Cloud & Infrastructure Tools | API, Azure Dev, Azure DevOps CLI, Azure Ops, Okta, Power Platform |
| Data & Analytics Tools | Data Analytics, Databricks |
| Background Services & Daemons | Nginx Reverse Proxy, OpenTelemetry Monitoring |
| Infrastructure & Configuration | Terraform, Ansible, Kubernetes, SQL & REST |
| Contributor Tools | Image Processing |
| Frameworks & Standalone Binaries | Docusaurus, Hugo Extended |
See Available Tools for details and installation guides.
DevContainer Toolbox is built for AI coding assistants. The isolated container keeps the AI safely contained while giving it full access to your project.
This 30-second clip shows an AI adding a new development tool. Learn how it works.
- Rancher Desktop 1.24 or later, started and ready (free, no licence needed). Docker Desktop also works, but companies need a paid subscription for it.
- VS Code. The installer adds the Dev Containers extension for you.
- Windows: Windows 11 (x64). Rancher Desktop needs WSL; on a work PC your IT department sets it up with Rancher Desktop. On your own PC, run
wsl --install --no-distributionin PowerShell as Administrator, then restart. - Mac: macOS 13 (Ventura) or later, on Apple Silicon (M1 or later).
New to containers? See What Are DevContainers?
- Getting Started - Installation and first steps
- Available Tools - All installable tools
- Commands Reference - All
dev-*commands - AI Development - Working with AI coding assistants
- Troubleshooting - Common issues and solutions
- Contributing - How to contribute
MIT