The complete VSCode devcontainer setup that eliminates environment setup time and protects you from AI security incidents. Perfect for parent developers who code in 15-minute windows and can't afford security disasters.
Built by @meimakes
- Clone this repository to start fresh or copy
.devcontainer/into your project - Update your details in
devcontainer.json(replace email and name inpostCreateCommand) - Open in VSCode and select "Reopen in Container" when prompted
- Start coding safely - everything is pre-configured!
Time Protection: No more losing precious coding minutes to environment setup. Clone any project and be productive in 30 seconds.
Security Isolation: AI tools run safely inside containers, protecting your credentials, SSH keys, and other projects from malicious MCP servers and security incidents.
Consistency Everywhere: Works identically on your laptop, your family's computer, Codespaces, or that old machine you pulled out of storage.
- Claude Code - Perfect for understanding codebases after days away from a project
- GitHub Copilot - Smart completions for any language or framework
- Copilot Chat - Ask questions and debug without leaving VSCode
- Auto-save after 1 second - never lose work when interrupted by kids
- Smart git commits - stage and commit in one action when you're in a rush
- Auto dark mode - switches between "Quiet Light" and "Monokai" with your system
- Enhanced terminal - beautiful fonts and persistent command history
- File nesting - groups related files to reduce visual clutter
- Persistent bash history across container rebuilds
- Smart file exclusions - hides build artifacts and node_modules from search
- Enhanced IntelliSense - comprehensive autocomplete that prioritizes snippets
- Bracket pair colorization - visual cues for code structure
- Auto-formatting - ESLint and Prettier fix code as you type
- JetBrains Mono Nerd Font with ligatures for readable code
- Material icon theme for better file type recognition
- Optimized settings for quick context switching between files
- Eye-friendly themes for both day and night coding sessions
This container works great for:
- Web development (React, Vue, Angular, vanilla JS)
- Node.js applications and APIs
- Static sites (Hugo, Jekyll, Next.js)
- TypeScript projects of any kind
- General purpose coding in most languages
Create .devcontainer/bashrc and mount it:
# Custom aliases for your workflow
alias deploy="npm run build && npm run deploy"
alias fresh="rm -rf node_modules && npm install"Then add to your devcontainer.json mounts:
"mounts": [
"source=${localWorkspaceFolder}/.devcontainer/bashrc,target=/home/node/.bashrc,type=bind", // Add this line
"source=parentdev-bashhistory,target=/home/node/.bash_history,type=volume"
]Add extensions to the extensions array for your tech stack:
// For Python projects
"ms-python.python"
// For Docker
"ms-azuretools.vscode-docker"
// For GraphQL
"graphql.vscode-graphql"Add to containerEnv for project-specific settings:
"containerEnv": {
"NODE_ENV": "development",
"API_URL": "http://localhost:3001"
}- Credential theft by malicious AI tools or MCP servers
- Cross-project contamination when experimenting with new tools
- Host system compromise from vulnerable dependencies
- Data exfiltration through prompt injection attacks
- File system isolation - AI can only access project files, not your host machine SSH keys or other projects
- Network isolation - containers can't access local services without explicit permission
- Instant recovery - if something goes wrong, rebuild in 30 seconds instead of hours of cleanup
This setup lets you:
- ✅ Experiment with new AI tools fearlessly
- ✅ Try sketchy MCP servers when you're desperate at midnight
- ✅ Give AI assistants full project access safely
- ❌ Never worry about mysterious AWS bills or compromised credentials
Container won't start?
- Run "Dev Containers: Rebuild Container Without Cache" from the Command Palette (
Cmd+Shift+Pon Mac orCtrl+Shift+Pon Windows/Linux) - Check that Docker is running and has enough memory
Extensions not installing?
- Rebuild container to refresh extension installation
- Check internet connection for downloading extensions
Bash aliases not working?
- Ensure you've created the
.devcontainer/bashrcfile - Add the bashrc mount to your
devcontainer.json - Rebuild container after adding mounts
Git authentication issues?
- Use
gh auth loginfor GitHub CLI authentication - Or configure Git with personal access tokens
No Judgment Required: Make security decisions when you're well-rested, then let containers protect you when you're not.
Instant Context Recovery: AI assistants help you remember what you were working on after days away.
Experiment Safely: Try new tools and techniques without fear of breaking your main environment.
Maximize Coding Time: Spend your precious 15-minute windows writing code, not fighting with setup.
Before containers, a security incident meant:
- Hours investigating what was compromised
- Rotating credentials across dozens of services
- Explaining to your employer why company data was accessed
- Anxiety about unknown damage scope
Now? Worst case: rebuild container, get back to coding.
Found a way to make this better? Open an issue or submit a PR. Whether it's a new extension recommendation, a security improvement, or a workflow trick that saves precious minutes — contributions from fellow parent devs are always welcome.
MIT - Use this however helps your parent developer workflow!
Ready to code safely and efficiently? Copy this devcontainer into your next project and experience development without environment anxiety.