Ready to use Webots with NO Installation | Docker for Webots

#docker #webots #webots_docker_image #webots_installation
Soft_illusion is back with a new video on Docker with Webots. (A channel that aims to help the robotics community).
Links:
A great video with a good overview of dockers: • What is Docker in 5 mi...
from ‪@TechSquidTV‬
Webots guide to working with Docker: cyberbotics.com/doc/guide/ins...
cyberbotics.com/doc/guide/ins...
Installing Docker: (Select your platform here, in the video we select Ubuntu)
docs.docker.com/engine/instal...
Direct link to install Docker on Ubuntu:
docs.docker.com/engine/instal...
Installation instructions have been explained in the video.
Command to check if Docker is installed:
sudo docker ps
This command shows the dockers that are currently running in the system.
To get GUI for Webots on the Docker, X11 forwarding needs to be given.
Command to give X11 forwarding using xhost is given in the Webots document.
The docker run command can then be used either with or without the GPU. In the video we show the GPU option.
The video starts with answering the simple question, Why docker..!!?
The most common importance lies in these 2 scenarios:
1. When you just want to get a feel of Webots without actually going through the haste of actually installing it.
2. To escape the problem of works in my computer. Developers several times face this problem where they build a code in their computer and it works fine, but fails to work in the clients computer due to dependency issues. Docker helps to escape this problem.
Then a higher level view of what is docker is discussed. Docker is something that sits directly on the host operating system and does not care which operating system it really is. Developing apps today requires so much more than writing code. Multiple languages, frameworks, architectures, and discontinuous interfaces between tools for each lifecycle stage creates enormous complexity. Docker simplifies and accelerates your workflow, while giving developers the freedom to innovate with their choice of tools, application stacks, and deployment environments for each project.
A Docker container image is a lightweight, standalone, executable package of software that includes everything needed to run an application: code, runtime, system tools, system libraries and settings. Docker's technology is unique because it focuses on the requirements of developers and systems operators to separate application dependencies from infrastructure.
In the video we finally dive into using docker with Webots. Webots opens by typing "webots" in the docker, which shows a Webots session, which loads a default scene. The docker can then be used to create your own project or can also be used to just view another project. Once you complete your project in Webots, you can then save it in the root folder. Failing to save the world can make you loose all changes.
Once the Webots world is saved, Webots can be closed.
To check if the Webots docker is still running we can run the following command on another terminal: sudo docker ps, and for sure you'll see that the Webots docker is still running. Now before hitting exit on the docker we need to commit, so that we don't loose the changes in the docker. To do this we run the command:
sudo docker commit (commit ID) (docker name)(tag)
This saves the docker in the current state as an image.
Next running the command:
sudo docker images
will show all the docker images.
Now this docker image can be shared with anyone and they'll be able to see the same scenario as was saved by you. This has also been demonstrated in the video.
Thus using docker enables you to use Webots without needing to have any prior knowledge.

[@TechSquidTV]

Thanks for the mention!

[@coolrobotics]

Your video was great !!!!
Thank you ...