Like many others, I’ve been struggling with the local Docker setup for freeCodeCamp’s Relational Database course. After 3 days of troubleshooting, I finally found a reliable solution that works consistently.
My Setup:
- Mac M1
- Docker Desktop
- No technical background (so I might be overdoing some steps, but this works for me!)
The Solution (11 Steps)
- Delete your user token from freeCodeCamp profile settings
- Comment out the token line in Dockerfile:
dockerfile
# ENV CODEROAD_WEBHOOK_TOKEN=your-token-here
Remember to save the file
- Run cache cleanup commands (see below)
- Quit Docker Desktop completely
- Restart Docker Desktop
- Build the container following freeCodeCamp instructions but skip token generation
- Stop at step 3 (before CodeRoad setup)
- Run cache cleanup commands again
- Quit Docker Desktop
- Generate a new token in freeCodeCamp, add it to Dockerfile, and save
- Build the container again
- Complete the remaining freeCodeCamp setup steps
Cache Cleanup Commands
Run these in your terminal one by one:
bash
docker system prune -a --volumes
docker builder prune -a
rm -rf ~/.vscode/extensions/coderoad*
rm -rf ~/Library/Application\ Support/Code/User/workspaceStorage/
Success Indicators
When setup works correctly:
- VS Code changes from black to ocean blue theme (not sure why this happens!)
- Terminal prompt shows:
camper: /project$
When setup failed:
- Terminal prompt shows:
camper@097163d61364:/workspace/project$
Important Notes
- I use my computer’s terminal, not VS Code’s integrated terminal (might be relevant)
- Progress can be lost: I left the “Build a Kitty Ipsum Translator” tutorial half-finished overnight, and it stopped working the next morning. Had to repeat all steps and lost my progress.
- This seems excessive but it’s the most reliable method I’ve found
- I just ended the “Build a Kitty Ipsum Translator” tutorial and progress in my freeCodeCamp was correctly recorded and saved.
This solution has worked consistently for me. Hope it helps others facing similar Docker/CodeRoad issues!