# Bluefin - use podman distrobox container in vscode **URL:** \ **Category:** Bluefin\ **Created:** [January 9, 2025, 9:30am UTC](https://universal-blue.discourse.group/t/bluefin-use-podman-distrobox-container-in-vscode/6193 "2025-01-09T09:30:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 2\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![klmcw](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eb8c5e/32.png) [@klmcw](https://universal-blue.discourse.group/u/klmcw)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2025, 9:30am UTC](https://universal-blue.discourse.group/t/bluefin-use-podman-distrobox-container-in-vscode/6193/1 "2025-01-09T09:30:13Z")
I posted this in another thread. Adding here to make it more visible. This is not the best solution; but it does work with some limitations. Once the distrobox is created, and the vscode dependencies are added to it - you can use the **Dev Containers: Attach to Running Container** vscode command. The reason to do this is: - install different versions of a toolchain (e.g., Python 3.13, 3.14 and the freethreading versions of each) - minimize disk utilization by installing these in 1 single container that is shared - take advantage of the Ptyxis integration with podman as needed - use the same container within VS Code It does work - I even used the VSCode debugger with a Python program using the versions of Python I installed in the distrobox. But there are downsides. See this post comment for more details … > [@Trying to get vscode to attach to running container made with boxbuddy/distrobox -- docker doesn't see my containers at all](https://universal-blue.discourse.group/t/trying-to-get-vscode-to-attach-to-running-container-made-with-boxbuddy-distrobox-docker-doesnt-see-my-containers-at-all/1366/10): > > I finally took the time to work through getting vscode to open a remote connection to a running distrobox container. While not technically a devcontainer, the result seems to be similar. Here is what I discovered so far. Enjoy! bluefin - use podman distrobox container in vscode To use a bluefin distrobox in vscode as a devcontainer, do the following to create and attach to a running podman distrobox. However, there are some pretty severe limitations to doing this. But it does work. TL;DR - … I will soon be adding another post about using docker to create a distrobox instead; and sharing the OCI image with vscode to create devcontainers for different projects. That is a different way to share the installation - without resorting to local layering. Enjoy! ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/univeral_blue/original/2X/e/e39f7d1952979cf23b0f8d634e025fb38da50026.png) [@system](https://universal-blue.discourse.group/u/system)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2025, 9:30am UTC](https://universal-blue.discourse.group/t/bluefin-use-podman-distrobox-container-in-vscode/6193/2 "2025-04-09T09:30:16Z")
Closed on April 9, 2025, 9:30am UTC This topic was automatically closed 90 days after the last reply. New replies are no longer allowed.