[samlinnfer]

Here is what I do: run a container in a folder that has my entire dev environment installed. No VMs needed.

The only access the container has are the folders that are bind mounted from the host’s filesystem. The container gets network access from a transparent proxy.

https://github.com/dogestreet/dev-container

Much more usable than setting up a VM and you can share the same desktop environment as the host.

[phrotoma]

This works great for naked code, but it kinda becomes a PITA if you want to develop a containerized application. As soon as you ask your agent to start hacking on a dockerfile or some compose files you start needing a bunch of cockeyed hacks to do containers-in-containers. I found it to be much less complicated to just stuff the agent in a full fledged VM with nerdctl and let it rip.

[sampullman]

I did this for a while, it's pretty good but I occasionally came across dependencies that were difficult to install in containers, and other minor inconveniences.

I ended up getting a mini-PC solely dedicated toward running agents in dangerous mode, it's refreshing to not have to think too much about sandboxing.

[laborcontract]

I totally agree with you. Running a cheapo mac mini with full permissions with fully tracked code and no other files of importance is so liberating. Pair that with tailscale, and being able to ssh/screen control at any time, as well as access my dev deployments remotely. :chefs kiss:

[ariwilson]

why a mac mini rather than a cloud vps

[sampullman]

I use a new Ryzen based mini PC instead of Mac mini, but the reasoning is the same. For the amount of compute/memory it pays for itself in less than a year, and the lower latency for ssh/dev servers is nice too.

[samlinnfer]

One less company to give your code to.