/openfoam-workflow-vscode

This repo shows how I personally work with OpenFOAM through Docker and Visual Studio Code. Using Visual Studio Code as text editor has a number of advantages as it allows you to attach the file system of a running Docker container, which makes accessing an OpenFOAM/Docker installation much easier. Also, Visual Studio Code has extensions for OpenFOAM syntax highlighting.

Visual Studio Code workflow for OpenFOAM with Docker

Repository describing my favourite workflow combining Visual Studio Code, OpenFOAM and Docker. Make sure to first follow the guide at https://github.com/jakobhaervig/openfoam-dockerfiles before continuing with this guide.

1. Install Visual Studio Code

First, install the text editor Visual Studio Code.

2. Install extensions

Install the following extensions, which will help our OpenFOAM workflow:

  1. Docker
  2. Remote - Containers
  3. OpenFOAM

3. Associate OpenFOAM-specific files to enable syntax highlighting

4. Start Docker container

First, make sure Docker is running and you have a Docker image avialable with your OpenFOAM installation. I have a created a guide github.com/jakobhaervig/openfoam-dockerfiles, which will guide you through the process if in doubt.

Next, start a terminal in VS Code and run the following command to start a Docker container:

docker container run -ti --rm -v $HOME/openfoam-data:/data -w /data openfoam:v2106

5. Attach Visual Studio Code to the running Docker container

Attach Visual Studio Code to the running Docker container. This enables us to access the file system within the container directly in VS Code.

6. Open a folder to access the file system within the Docker container

From within the newly opened window open a folder at root / to gain full access to the file system of the Docker container.

7. Open a terminal from within the Docker container

Open a new terminal within the Docker container and test if OpenFOAM is sourced correctly:

simpleFoam -help