DDEV Coder Templates

Coder workspace template for DDEV-based development with Docker-in-Docker support, Node.js, and Git.

Get started with Drupal core development:

Features

• Custom Base Image: Ubuntu 24.04 LTS with essential development tools
• Docker-in-Docker: Full Docker support for DDEV (using Sysbox runtime)
• DDEV: Pre-installed and ready to use
• VS Code for Web: Browser-based IDE with full extension support

Configuration

Container:

• User: coder (UID 1000)
• Runtime: sysbox-runc (for secure Docker-in-Docker)
• Docker daemon: Runs inside the container

Installed Tools:

• Docker CLI and daemon (latest stable)
• ddev (latest stable)
• Git, vim, build tools

Docker Image and Template Management

Building and Deploying

The base Docker image is built from the image/Dockerfile and the Coder template is in template/. Use the provided Makefile to manage everything:

# Full deployment (build, push image, push template)
make deploy-user-defined-web

# Full deployment without cache
make deploy-user-defined-web-no-cache

# Image operations
make build              # Build the image with cache
make build-no-cache     # Build without cache (useful for clean builds)
make push               # Push to Docker Hub
make build-and-push     # Build and push in one command

# Template operations
make push-template-user-defined-web      # Push user-defined-web template to Coder

# Utility commands
make test               # Test the built image
make info               # Show version and configuration
make help               # See all available commands

Version Management

The VERSION file in the root directory controls the image tag. The Makefile automatically copies it into the template directory before pushing, and template.tf reads it from there — no manual edits to template.tf are needed.

To release a new version:

1. Update the VERSION file (e.g., v0.7)
2. Run make deploy-user-defined-web to build image, push image, and push template

Quick deployment:

make deploy-user-defined-web        # Build with cache and deploy
# or
make deploy-user-defined-web-no-cache  # Clean build and deploy

Documentation

New to Coder?

• 📘 Getting Started Guide - Create your first workspace
• 📗 Using Workspaces - Daily workflows and tips

Administrators:

• 📕 Operations Guide - Deploy and manage template
• 📙 User Management - Users, roles, permissions
• 📔 Troubleshooting - Debug common issues

DDEV Experts:

• 🔍 Comparison to Local DDEV - Architecture, tradeoffs, migration

Developers/Contributors:

• 🤖 CLAUDE.md - AI-assisted development guide

📚 Full Documentation Index

Template Structure

coder-ddev/
├── user-defined-web/          # General-purpose DDEV template
│   ├── template.tf
│   └── README.md
├── drupal-core/   # Drupal core development template
│   ├── template.tf
│   └── README.md
├── image/              # Shared Docker image
└── Makefile           # Build and deploy automation

Available Templates

user-defined-web (General Purpose)

Basic DDEV development environment for any project type.

• Resources: 4 cores, 8 GB RAM (default)
• Setup: Manual (clone your own repository)
• Use Case: Any DDEV-compatible project (Drupal, WordPress, Laravel, etc.)
• Start Time: < 1 minute
• Template Directory: user-defined-web/

Create workspace:

coder create --template user-defined-web my-workspace

drupal-core (Drupal Core Development)

Fully automated Drupal core development environment, including issue fork support.

• Setup: Automatic (Drupal core cloned and installed, ~30s with seed cache)
• Use Case: Drupal core development, contribution, patch testing
• Template Directory: drupal-core/
• Issue Picker: start.coder.ddev.com/drupal-issue — paste any drupal.org issue URL; the picker auto-detects core vs. contrib and routes to the right template
• Includes:
  • Pre-cloned Drupal core (main branch by default)
  • Issue fork checkout with automatic Composer dependency resolution (Drupal 10, 11, and 12/main)
  • Configured DDEV with automatic PHP version selection
  • Installed demo_umami site (or standard/minimal via parameter)
  • Admin account (admin/admin)

Create workspace:

coder create --template drupal-core my-drupal-dev

drupal-contrib (Drupal Contrib Development)

Automated environment for developing Drupal contrib modules and themes, with optional issue branch support.

• Setup: Automatic (module/theme cloned, Drupal installed as dev dependency via ddev-drupal-contrib, ~5-10 min)
• Use Case: Contrib module/theme development, issue queue work on any drupal.org project
• Template Directory: drupal-contrib/
• Issue Picker: start.coder.ddev.com/drupal-issue — paste a drupal.org issue or project URL; auto-detects contrib
• Includes:
  • Any drupal.org project cloned (modules and themes)
  • Issue fork checkout via issue_fork + issue_branch parameters
  • DDEV with ddev-drupal-contrib addon (adds ddev phpunit, ddev phpcs, ddev phpstan)
  • Drupal installed as a dev dependency (module/theme auto-symlinked into web root)

Create workspace:

coder create --template drupal-contrib my-contrib-dev \
  --parameter project_name=token \
  --parameter drupal_version=11

Choosing a Template

• Use user-defined-web for:

  • Site building and custom site projects
  • General Drupal/PHP projects
  • Maximum flexibility

• Use drupal-core for:

  • Drupal core patches and issue queue work
  • Testing Drupal core changes
  • Learning Drupal internals

• Use drupal-contrib for:

  • Contrib module or theme development
  • Working on drupal.org contrib issue queues

Usage

Create a new workspace using your chosen template:

# General-purpose DDEV environment
coder create --template user-defined-web <workspace-name>

# Drupal core development environment
coder create --template drupal-core <workspace-name>

# Drupal contrib module/theme development
coder create --template drupal-contrib <workspace-name> \
  --parameter project_name=token --parameter drupal_version=11

Access your project:

• Open Coder dashboard
• Find your workspace
• Click on port 80 or 443 under "Apps"

📖 Full Getting Started Guide

For Administrators

Deploy template and manage infrastructure:

# Build and push Docker image
cd image
docker build -t ddev/coder-ddev:v0.1 .
docker push ddev/coder-ddev:v0.1

# Deploy template to Coder
coder templates push --directory user-defined-web user-defined-web --yes

# Or use Makefile
make deploy-user-defined-web  # Build + push image + push template

📖 Full Operations Guide