Running Eclipse Luna inside a Docker container

Preliminary note

This image is based on these blog entries

• http://fabiorehm.com/blog/2014/09/11/running-gui-apps-with-docker/
• http://www.lorenzobettini.it/2012/10/installing-eclipse-features-via-the-command-line/

Thanks to the authors :)

What's installed?

• Eclipse Mars (or Luna - depends on tag) for RCP and RAP developers

Plugins

• Findbugs
• Checkstyle
• Database Viewer
• Memory Analyzer
• QuickREx

Tools (command line, use e.g. in wicket shell)

• Oracle JDKs 6,7 and 8
• gradle
• ant
• git

Download the image and create container

docker run -it \
    --name eclipse \
    -v ~/workspace/:/home/developer/workspace/ \
    -e DISPLAY \
    -v /tmp/.X11-unix:/tmp/.X11-unix \
    joemat/docker-eclipse-for-rcp

The -v parameter binds the directory workspace to /home/developer/workspace wihtin in the cotainer. You may want to adjust this parameter.

Troubleshooting

If the UI does not come up and the following message appears:

No protocol specified
Eclipse: Cannot open display:

Try to call xhost +local: before starting the container. (Because the X server connection uses a local socket /tmp/.X11-unix and such direct access is disabled.)

Build the image from Dockerfile

git clone https://github.com/joemat/docker-eclipse-for-rcp.git
cd docker-eclpse-for-rcp

# (optional: adjust UID, GUI and User in Dockerfile)

docker build -t eclipse-for-rcp .

# run the image to create a container
docker run -it \
	--name eclipse \
    -v ~/workspace/:/home/developer/workspace/ \
    -e DISPLAY \
    -v /tmp/.X11-unix:/tmp/.X11-unix \
    docker-eclipse-for-rcp

Subsequent starts

docker start eclipse

The container is stopped when Eclipse is shut down.

Get a shell within a running container

To get a shell within the running container (e.g. for running gradle or mvnfrom the commandline) call:

docker exec -ti -u developer eclipse bash