base-container-template

This project provides a ready-to-use container image for running Python code and Jupyter notebooks.
It includes system dependencies (ODBC 18 driver, etc.) and is easily extensible via requirements.txt and the Dockerfile.

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Getting Started

Prerequisites

• Docker Desktop installed and running
• (Optional but recommended) VS Code with:
  • Python extension
  • Jupyter extension

1. Allow your WSL user to run Docker

# Replace <user_name> with your WSL username
sudo usermod -aG docker <user_name>
exec su -l <user_name>   # restart your shell/session

2. Build the container

Navigate to the directory containing your Dockerfile:

cd <PATH TO DOCKERFILE PARENT DIRECTORY>
docker build -t base-container-image .

3. Run Jupyter inside the container

docker run -it --rm   -v "$(pwd)":/app   -p 8888:8888   base-container-image   jupyter server --ip=0.0.0.0 --port=8888 --no-browser --allow-root --ServerApp.token=''

This launches a Jupyter server on http://localhost:8888.
Because the token is set to '', no authentication is required (fine for local dev — not safe for shared environments).

4. Connect from VS Code

• Open your .ipynb file in VS Code
• Click Select Kernel → Existing Jupyter Server
• Enter the URL:

  http://localhost:8888
  

• Give it a name (e.g., python_kernel)

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Running Python Scripts

You don’t have to use Jupyter — you can also run scripts directly against the container.

1. Find the running container:

   docker ps

   Note the CONTAINER ID.

2. Open a shell inside it:

   docker exec -it <container_id> bash

3. Navigate to your file and run it:

   cd /app/src
   python3 your_script.py

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Customizing the Container

• Python dependencies → edit requirements.txt
• System dependencies → edit Dockerfile (e.g., add apt-get install lines)

Rebuild the image after changes:

docker build -t base-container-image .

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Notes

• Always restart your WSL session after adding your user to the docker group.
• For production use, configure a secure Jupyter token or password.
• Mounts: the current working directory on the host ($(pwd)) is mounted into /app inside the container.