Create GitHub Codespaces configuration to make contributing easier

[HonkingGoose]

General overview of your idea.

I sometimes have an itch to get involved again with this project. But then I think about how much work it is to get set up for development, and give up. 😞

A project I help with has a GitHub Codespaces configuration ¹, with a Docker container and Codespaces specific config.

This all means I can click a button in the GitHub interface and get coding. 🥳 I don't have to worry about dependencies, as Codespaces will install the latest dependencies in the branch automatically. When I'm done working, I throw the container away, and start with a fresh one for the next change.

We'll definitely need help from somebody who knows their way around Docker and Codespaces ². I don't know enough to get us started.

Rough todo list:

• Make sure manual steps to build are complete and work
• Figure out requirements to build book
• Translate those requirements into a working Codespaces configuration

What problem will this solve?

We'll get more contributors by making it as easy as possible to get started. Right now, a contributor needs to figure out a lot of stuff to get started.

Have you thought about other solutions?

Keep things as they are, and keep relying on users setting up a local workstation with the manual instructions.

Do you want to help with this enhancement idea?

Maybe

Footnotes

1. https://github.com/renovatebot/renovate/tree/main/.devcontainer ↩

2. https://docs.github.com/en/codespaces ↩