Install in VS Code

This is the recommended setup path for new users.

Step 1: Run the Installer

From your project root:

npx @coredirective/cf-container

This creates a .devcontainer/ directory and a .codeforge/ directory in your project.

If `.devcontainer/` already exists

Use one of these instead:

npx @coredirective/cf-container --force
npx @coredirective/cf-container --reset

--force performs a smart update and preserves your customizations
--reset recreates .devcontainer/ from clean defaults while preserving .codeforge/

Step 2: Open the Project in VS Code

Open the project folder in VS Code. If the Dev Containers extension is installed, VS Code should prompt you to reopen the folder in a container.

If you miss the prompt:

Press Ctrl+Shift+P or Cmd+Shift+P
Run Dev Containers: Reopen in Container

Step 3: Wait for the First Build

The first build usually takes several minutes. During that time CodeForge is:

Pulling the base image
Installing features and runtimes
Deploying configuration and shell aliases
Activating plugins and setup scripts

Do not interrupt the first build unless it is clearly stuck. If it fails halfway through, rebuild without cache.

What Gets Created

your-project/
├── .devcontainer/
│   ├── devcontainer.json
│   ├── .env
│   ├── features/
│   ├── plugins/
│   └── scripts/
├── .codeforge/
│   ├── file-manifest.json
│   ├── config/
│   └── scripts/
└── ...your existing files

What to Do Next

Once the container is open and the terminal is available, continue to Verify Your Install.