#Docker on Windows

#Introduction

It’s possible to use your favorite Windows IDE locally and build, test and run ARK Core in a native Linux environment. This can be done by using Docker for Windows.

#Step 1: Install Prerequisites

Follow your operating system instructions and install:

1. Docker Desktop for Windows
2. Docker Compose

#Step 2: Setup Docker Environment

#Step 2.1: Configure Shared Drives

Once you installed Docker Desktop for Windows you’ll have to configure File Sharing so your Linux container can mount ARK Core repository cloned locally on your Windows system. Make sure your firewall and antivirus are turned off or configured to allow the above operation. Follow Docker Documentation - section FILE SHARING.

#Step 2.2: Setup Line Endings Style

git config --global core.eol lf
git config --global core.autocrlf input

Unless your IDE has a special setting to preserve Unix format EOL, every file you edit and save in Windows will be converted to Windows format i.e. it will be CRLF instead of LF.

#Step 3: Clone ARK Core Repository

Clone official ARK Core repository. Recommended branch to use for development is develop. Our example uses D:\core as a PATH where we checkout the core repo, so if you do not want to edit docker-compose.yml, you just go ahead and clone ARK Core to the same path.

cd d:\
git clone https://github.com/ArkEcosystem/core
cd core
git checkout develop

#Step 4: Running Your Container

#Step 4.1: Clone Core-Docker Repository

cd d:\
git clone https://github.com/ArkEcosystem/core-docker

#Step 4.2: [Optional] Adjust ARK Core PATH

cd core-docker/windows

Open file docker-compose.yml and:

Change line:

volumes:
     - d:/core:/core

To:

volumes:
     - d:/your_local_path_to_checked_out_core_repo:/core

#Step 4.3: Starting Your Container

Open PowerShell as Administrator and enter the following code:

cd core-docker/windows
docker-compose up -d

Entering the container shell with the following command:

docker exec -it ark-testnet-core bash

You can now build and run ARK Core from inside the container. Example:

Build:

cd /core
yarn setup

Run:

cd /core/packages/core
yarn full:testnet

#Start Core and Play With Public API

You can jump to Spinning Up Your First Testnet Section here and test your local Core Server, by following the link below: