How to mount a host directory in a Docker container

Question

I am trying to mount a host directory into a Docker container so that any updates done on the host is reflected into the Docker containers.

Where am I doing somethin

Answer 1

As of Docker 18-CE, you can use docker run -v /src/path:/container/path to do 2-way binding of a host folder.

There is a major catch here though if you're working with Windows 10/WSL and have Docker-CE for Windows as your host and then docker-ce client tools in WSL. WSL knows about the entire / filesystem while your Windows host only knows about your drives. Inside WSL, you can use /mnt/c/projectpath, but if you try to docker run -v ${PWD}:/projectpath, you will find in the host that /projectpath/ is empty because on the host /mnt means nothing.

If you work from /c/projectpath though and THEN do docker run -v ${PWD}:/projectpath and you WILL find that in the container, /projectpath will reflect /c/projectpath in realtime. There are no errors or any other ways to detect this issue other than seeing empty mounts inside your guest.

You must also be sure to "share the drive" in the Docker for Windows settings.