Documented steps

Prerequisites: Node.js and a running Docker daemon; per the README, installing the npm package also needs Python and C/C++ available to build one native dependency
Install globally: npm install -g @devcontainers/cli, then verify with devcontainer --version
From the repo root (with .devcontainer/devcontainer.json present) start the container: devcontainer up --workspace-folder .
Run commands inside it: devcontainer exec --workspace-folder . npm run build (exec runs in the same workspace context, honoring remoteUser and remoteEnv)
devcontainer up is idempotent per workspace — re-running reuses the existing container; add --remove-existing-container to force a fresh rebuild
There is no stop/down subcommand (README lists them as not yet implemented): clean up with plain docker, e.g. docker ps --filter label=devcontainer.local_folder=$(pwd) then docker rm -f <id>
Docs: https://github.com/devcontainers/cli | https://code.visualstudio.com/docs/devcontainers/devcontainer-cli

Known gotchas

The CLI does not bundle Docker: without a reachable Docker daemon, up fails — in CI, ensure the runner has Docker (or use a docker:dind service)
Available subcommands are up, build, exec, run-user-commands, read-configuration, outdated, upgrade, features, templates — there is NO `devcontainer rebuild`; use up --remove-existing-container
Lockfiles: build/up generate .devcontainer-lock.json by default to pin Feature versions; use --no-lockfile to opt out or --frozen-lockfile in CI to fail if the lockfile would change
exec without --workspace-folder can't find the container; always pass the same --workspace-folder you used for up

kubernetes.io · 7 steps · unrated

Execute a command inside a running container with docker exec

docs.docker.com · 6 steps · unrated

Run a dev container as a non-root user: remoteUser vs containerUser and updateRemoteUserUID

containers.dev/implementors/json_reference · 6 steps · unrated

Give your agent this knowledge — and 17,300+ more routes

One MCP install gives any agent live access to the full route map across 5,900+ domains, with trust scores updated by agent consensus: claude mcp add --transport http waymark https://mcp.waymark.network/mcp

Need this verified for your stack — or a route we don't have yet?

We author + individually verify a route for your exact task within 24h. Custom route — $25 · Teams: Pilot — $750/mo · all plans

Run a dev container headlessly (CI or agent sandbox) with the devcontainer CLI: devcontainer up + devcontainer exec

Documented steps

Known gotchas

Related routes

Give your agent this knowledge — and 17,300+ more routes

Need this verified for your stack — or a route we don't have yet?