devcontainer-help

Add packages to your devcontainer by modifying the Dockerfile section in devcontainer.json. Use RUN commands with your package manager (apt-get for Debian/Ubuntu, pip for Python, npm for Node.js) to install dependencies. Changes take effect when you rebuild the container.

Yes, specify VS Code extensions in the customizations.vscode.extensions array within devcontainer.json using their marketplace identifiers. Extensions install automatically when the container starts, ensuring consistent tooling across your development environment.

Customize devcontainer.json to combine multiple configurations: set the base image for your Python version, add database clients via Dockerfile RUN commands, include VS Code extensions for database tools, and use postCreateCommand to run setup scripts. This creates a fully tailored environment.

Define environment variables in the containerEnv or remoteEnv section of devcontainer.json, or add them via Dockerfile ENV commands. This ensures consistent configuration across all developer machines without hardcoding values in your project.

Yes, devcontainer features work together with Dockerfile customizations. Features provide pre-built tool configurations while Dockerfile RUN commands add project-specific packages, letting you combine standardized tooling with custom requirements efficiently.

Yes, you must rebuild the container to apply changes to devcontainer.json, Dockerfile commands, or installed packages. Most editors provide a rebuild command; changes then take effect when the container restarts.