Running containers with kubedock (crw-3367)

[deerskindoll]

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🎊 Navigate the preview: https://667bc873bdee9e8d3534797d--eclipse-che-docs-pr.netlify.app 🎊

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Click here to review and test in web IDE:

[deerskindoll]

feedback from Anton:

I would really appreciate if we could add some more context explaining why kubedock is useful. The docs says
Use kubedock to run containers as Kubernetes pods.

And while that is technically true, you can also use devfile to run containers. Or k8s deployment. Kubedock is minimal container engine implementation which gives you podman(or docker)-like experience inside Dev Spaces Workspace. Developers are used to using podman/docker during their local development workflow, and kubedock brings that experience onto the OpenShift, inside Dev Spaces.. This is otherwise incredibly hard to achieve due to the inherent OpenShift security restrictions. Kubedock is specifically useful when dealing with ad-hoc, ephemeral and testing containers. Suitable use cases are (list is not exhaustive)

1. Executing applications tests which rely on Testcontainers framework - kubedock will dynamically spin up required test container image , on the fly, as an OpenShift pod, giving user seamless experience.

2. Quarkus Dev Services - which are internally relying on Testcontainers as well.

3. When you are in need to you to run a container stored in remote container registry, for local development purposes and for whatever reasons you don't want to pollute the devfile . It's very important to mention (even though this is obvious!) that even though it gives you podman-like experience which you are used to from your local development environment, the absolute hard requirement is that the particular image which is being used via kubedock must be compatible with OpenShift. I specifically have security requirements in mind - i.e. not every container image which can be executed in your local machine, can also be executed on OpenShift. So if you do podman run - it will fail with kubedock, and it will work locally. (edited)

Once the use cases/motivation is explained, it would really good if we can share an example devfile.yaml, but ideally with accompanied git repo as well. I know this is hard, because including public github link in official documentation is always risky, so not sure what is the general rule of thumb for tech writers.

Container Image Guidelines for OpenSHift are here https://docs.openshift.com/container-platform/4.15/openshift_images/create-images.html - For example, the kafka-native testcontainer wasn't compatible with openshift - it only worked in local environment. So user who used this testcontinaer locally, would be surprised if he tried to use it via kubedock in dev spaces. We had to reach out to upstream community and they had to refactor that image, so it would become OCP-compatible (luckily, the image owner was Red Hatter as well..). I am just sharing all my experience accumulated over the past weeks..

[deerskindoll]

@agiertli let me know if you like it. I didn't include some of the details because I felt the content is pretty self-explanatory.

[deerskindoll]

@agiertli I'll have add the doc to admin guide navigation. do you have any preferences regarding where to place the doc?

[agiertli]

@agiertli I'll have add the doc to admin guide navigation. do you have any preferences regarding where to place the doc?

Hi, this is a user guide content, not admin. Perhaps under Getting Started https://eclipse.dev/che/docs/stable/end-user-guide/getting-started-with-che/ or a brand new section.

[deerskindoll]

@agiertli I'll have add the doc to admin guide navigation. do you have any preferences regarding where to place the doc?

@agiertli I'll have add the doc to admin guide navigation. do you have any preferences regarding where to place the doc?

Hi, this is a user guide content, not admin. Perhaps under Getting Started https://eclipse.dev/che/docs/stable/end-user-guide/getting-started-with-che/ or a brand new section.

My mistake. Got it!