toolbox

Run a toolbox subcommand

$ toolbox [subcommand]

$ toolbox help [subcommand]

$ toolbox [[-h|--help]]

$ toolbox --version

toolbox command

create
    Creates a toolbox container.

enter
    Enters an existing toolbox container.

init-container
    Initializes the toolbox container.

rm
    Removes a toolbox container.

run command
    Runs a command within the toolbox container.

list
    Lists existing toolbox containers.

help
    Displays help information.

The toolbox command provides a containerized command-line environment for Linux development and debugging. It leverages Podman to create a Fedora-based container where users can install development tools and experiment without polluting the host system's configuration. The container utilizes the host's user ID (UID) and mounts key directories like /home, /tmp, and /run/media, allowing seamless file access and integration. It is designed for environments like Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) and other distributions where modifying the base OS for development purposes is discouraged. The toolbox container facilitates easy access to development tools like compilers, debuggers, and version control systems, offering a clean and isolated environment for development tasks. It ensures that development dependencies don't conflict with system dependencies, maintaining the stability and integrity of the host operating system. This approach is particularly beneficial for systems requiring strict adherence to configurations.

Toolbox relies on Podman and systemd being present on the host system. It's designed for Fedora-based systems, though it can be adapted for others.
User needs to have permissions to run podman commands.
Changes made inside the container don't affect the host OS, but files are shared, allowing for persistent changes in shared directories like /home.

Typical use cases include software development, debugging, testing, and building container images. It's particularly useful for developers who need specific tool versions or libraries that are not available or compatible with the host OS.

The typical workflow involves creating a toolbox container (toolbox create), entering the container (toolbox enter), installing development tools inside the container, and running commands.
The user can then work within the container environment and exit when finished.

Toolbox emerged as a solution to provide a development environment on immutable operating systems and systems where modifying the base OS is discouraged, such as Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL). It allows developers to work with the tools they need without impacting the system's stability and compliance. It was developed to make the development workflow more streamlined and manageable in containerized environments, and gained popularity for its ease of use and isolation capabilities.

podman(1), docker(1)