---
title: "Windows Docker Desktop"
id: "502"
type: "page"
slug: "windows-docker-desktop"
published_at: "2026-06-02T08:02:54+00:00"
modified_at: "2026-06-10T12:11:02+00:00"
url: "https://xedant.com/code/windows-docker-desktop"
markdown_url: "https://xedant.com/code/windows-docker-desktop.md"
excerpt: "Docker Desktop provides a graphical interface for managing Docker containers on Windows. This guide covers…"
---

# Windows Docker Desktop

[https://xedant.com/code/windows-docker-desktop.md](https://xedant.com/code/windows-docker-desktop.md)

Don’t want to read through all this? Just point any AI chat (Claude, ChatGPT, etc.) to [this page in Markdown](https://xedant.com/code/windows-docker-desktop.md)
 or to the [llms.txt](/llms.txt)
 index, and ask it to generate the config files and commands for you. It’ll read the docs, ask you a few questions about your setup, and give you ready-to-use configuration. Save your time — let the model do the reading.

 You could also contact me via Telegram — I’m always eager to help. I’m not being just polite here — I really like to chat with like-minded people, especially if you love coding as much as I do.

 Docker Desktop provides a graphical interface for managing Docker containers on Windows. This guide covers using Docker Desktop with WSL 2 backend to run Xedant Code — combining the ease of a GUI with full container isolation.

## Installing Docker Desktop

Download Docker Desktop for Windows from [docker.com](https://www.docker.com/products/docker-desktop/)
. Run the installer and follow the prompts:

- Enable WSL 2 during installation (required for optimal performance)
- Restart your computer when prompted
- After restart, Docker Desktop starts automatically

## Configuring Docker Desktop

Open Docker Desktop settings (gear icon) and ensure WSL 2 is enabled:

- **General** — ensure “Use the WSL 2 based engine” is checked
- **Resources → WSL Integration** — enable integration for your Linux distributions

## Setting Up Your Project

Create a folder for your project. Inside, create a `docker-compose.yml` file following the [Docker Setup Guide](/code/docker)
, or create a `.env` file for the Docker CLI approach. Choose your image:

- `xedant/code:dev-latest` — Full development environment (2.8 GB, includes ASP.NET Core and Node.js dev tools)
- `xedant/code:min-latest` — Full-featured image if you don’t need ASP.NET Core development tools (570 MB, includes Node.js, Python, and all required tools)

## Starting Xedant Code

Open a terminal (PowerShell, Command Prompt, or WSL) in your project folder and start the container:

```
# Using Docker Compose
docker compose up -d

# Using Docker CLI with .env file
docker run -d --env-file .env -p 5001:80 -v ./MyProject:/project xedant/code:dev-latest
```

Docker Desktop shows the running container in its dashboard. You can view logs, restart, or stop the container from the GUI.

Open your browser and navigate to `http://localhost:5001` (or whatever port you configured).

**Need custom tools?** If your project uses specific languages or tools not included in the image, you can extend it with a custom Dockerfile — see [Extending the Image with Custom Tools](/code/docker#extending-the-image-with-custom-tools)
 in the Docker Setup Guide.

## Tips

- **WSL 2 Backend** — Docker Desktop on Windows uses WSL 2 for best performance. If WSL 2 isn’t installed, Docker Desktop will prompt you during setup.
- **File Access** — For best Docker performance, keep project files inside the WSL filesystem rather than on Windows drives. Access WSL files from File Explorer via `\\wsl$\`.
- **Port Forwarding** — WSL 2 automatically forwards ports to Windows. If `localhost` doesn’t work, find your WSL IP with `hostname -I` inside WSL.
- **Resource Limits** — Adjust Docker Desktop’s memory and CPU allocation in Settings → Resources if your projects need more power.

For detailed Docker configuration (compose files, environment variables, credentials), see the [Docker Setup Guide](/code/docker)
. For the native Windows installer, see the [Windows Setup Guide](/code/windows)
. For installing Docker inside WSL without Docker Desktop, see the [WSL Setup Guide](/code/wsl)
.