Native Docker Feeling For Windows Using Git Bash

Docker on Windows is easy because of the native client port. The CLI tools are pretty well integrated for usage with PowerShell. But all available examples are stated in Linux shell syntax and translating all of them is into PS syntax is most times annoying and alienating.

But the docker toolbox comes for rescue as it requires Git for Windows. This git distribution installs a version of MinGW and the MSYS tools providing the Git Bash shell similar to what you will find on Linux machines.

Using bash you can control any docker host on reachable machines. If you have problems with the default terminal emulation you must use winpty. There is a little culture clash between Linux and Windows console output.

For me this is really a productivity booster. Because combined with ssh you can use one shell instance for almost all adventures to remote Linux machines.