IDF Docker image (``espressif/idf``) is intended for building applications and libraries with specific versions of ESP-IDF, when doing automated builds.
The image contains:
- Common utilities such as git, wget, curl, zip.
- Python 3.6 or newer.
- A copy of a specific version of ESP-IDF (see below for information about versions). ``IDF_PATH`` environment variable is set, and points to ESP-IDF location in the container.
- All Python packages required by ESP-IDF are installed in a virtual environment.
The image entrypoint sets up ``PATH`` environment variable to point to the correct version of tools, and activates the Python virtual environment. As a result, the environment is ready to use the ESP-IDF build system.
The image can also be used as a base for custom images, if additional utilities are required.
Tags
====
Multiple tags of this image are maintained:
-``latest``: tracks ``master`` branch of ESP-IDF
-``vX.Y``: corresponds to ESP-IDF release ``vX.Y``
-``release-vX.Y``: tracks ``release/vX.Y`` branch of ESP-IDF
..note::
Versions of ESP-IDF released before this feature was introduced do not have corresponding Docker image versions. You can check the up-to-date list of available tags at https://hub.docker.com/r/espressif/idf/tags.
Usage
=====
Setting up Docker
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Before using the ``espressif/idf`` Docker image locally, make sure you have Docker installed. Follow the instructions at https://docs.docker.com/install/, if it is not installed yet.
If using the image in CI environment, consult the documentation of your CI service on how to specify the image used for the build process.
Building a project with CMake
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In the project directory, run::
docker run --rm -v $PWD:/project -w /project espressif/idf idf.py build
The above command explained:
-``docker run``: runs a Docker image. It is a shorter form of the command ``docker container run``.
-``--rm``: removes the container when the build is finished
-``-v $PWD:/project``: mounts the current directory on the host (``$PWD``) as ``/project`` directory in the container
-``espressif/idf``: uses Docker image ``espressif/idf`` with tag ``latest`` (implicitly added by Docker when no tag is specified)
-``idf.py build``: runs this command inside the container
It is also possible to do builds interactively, to debug build issues or test the automated build scripts. Start the container with `-i -t` flags::
docker run --rm -v $PWD:/project -w /project -it espressif/idf
Then inside the container, use ``idf.py`` as usual::
idf.py menuconfig
idf.py build
..note::
Commands which communicate with the development board, such as ``idf.py flash`` and ``idf.py monitor`` will not work in the container unless the serial port is passed through into the container. However currently this is not possible with Docker for Windows (https://github.com/docker/for-win/issues/1018) and Docker for Mac (https://github.com/docker/for-mac/issues/900).
