Running Docker (and Docker Compose) inside WSL?

[Luc45]

Has anyone had any luck running Docker and Docker Compose inside WSL in GitHub Actions?

[Vampire]

As only WSL 1 is available, I don't think you can. As far as I remember it was only possible to use the Docker CLI inside WSL 1 to control a Docker daemon actually running on Windows.

[Vampire]

Just in case you missed it, since some time also WSLv2 is possible and also supported by this action, so now you should be able to use Docker inside WSL in GHA. :-)

[Luc45]

Thanks, @Vampire!

[pseusys]

Do you by any chance have an example of setting up docker inside of the action?

[Vampire]

Just follow the normal docker installation instructions?

[pseusys]

Yes, thank you. After all (in case it could be useful for anyone following my path in the future), I think that for less complex projects it could be really useful just using podman as a replacement, since it does not require any complex installation: just adding podman, podman-docker and podman-compose in additional-packages seems to be enough.

[Vampire]

Nowadays I would practically always use podman over docker.
It should to all relevant parts a drop-in replacement and should not be restricted by project complexity.

Having said that, installing docker should also not be more complex, depending on which distribution you use.

For example with Debian or Ubuntu you would use the docker.io package.