Can I use docker for installing ubuntu on a Mac?

Question

I'm using a Mac, but I want to learn and use Ubuntu for development and I don't care about the GUI. I used to use Vagrant and ssh to the machine, but it consumes much of my machine resources. Can I use docker for the same purpose while also having the isolation (when I mess things up) of a VM?

Answer 1

• First install Docker Desktop for Mac.
• Then in a terminal window run: docker run -it --name ubuntu ubuntu:xenial bash

You are in a terminal with ubuntu and can do whatever you like.

Note: If you are using an ubuntu version bionic (18.04) or newer (ubuntu:bionic or ubuntu:latest), you must run the command unminimize inside the container so the tools for human interaction be installed.

To start again after a reboot:

docker start ubuntu docker exec -it ubuntu bash 

If you want save your changes:

docker commit ubuntu docker images 

See the unnamed image and:

docker tag <imageid> myubuntu

Then you can run another container using your new image.

docker run -it --name myubuntu myubuntu bash

Or replace the former

docker stop ubuntu docker rm ubuntu docker run -it --name ubuntu myubuntu bash 

Hope it helps