A container is one of the more technical parts of my setup plan. The reason for learning it is practical: I want a project to have a defined place for its code and supporting software.
A development container can package the tools and versions a project needs. That can make the setup easier to repeat on another computer.
It can also limit what a program can access, but the configuration matters. I should not assume that anything called a container is isolated from all my other work.
For example, a container can be given access to folders on the main computer. Those shared folders are often called mounts. If I share my whole personal folder, the container can reach what I deliberately made available.
Credentials matter too. Some editor integrations can pass through Git sign-in or an SSH agent, a service that authenticates requests using a key. That could give the container access to online work even if the key file itself is not inside it.
My plan is to review the folders, credentials, network access, and startup scripts before using a container with important material. A startup script is code that runs when the environment is created or opened.
I also need to run the assistant inside the container. Creating a configuration file while continuing to run the assistant on the main computer does not move the assistant into that environment.
Docker is one tool used for this. Access to Docker’s control service can be very powerful, so I do not want to expose that service casually to the assistant. My initial plan is to manage the container myself.
This topic applies to Windows, Mac, and Linux, though installation and behavior differ. A virtual machine may suit some higher-isolation needs; it still needs its own careful setup.
For a first exercise, use a disposable project. Check that the project works inside the container, then inspect what was shared into it. The useful result is a setup you understand well enough to describe accurately.