Create Development Environment in GitHub Codespaces for the Project

[ClementBobin]

Description:

This task involves setting up a development environment for the entire project using GitHub Codespaces. The goal is to provide a pre-configured, reproducible environment for all developers contributing to the project. This will streamline the setup process and ensure that the development environment is consistent across all contributors. Steps:

Create a .devcontainer Directory:
    In the root directory of the repository, create a .devcontainer folder to store configuration files for the Codespaces development environment.
    This folder will contain all necessary configuration files that define the development container, including Dockerfile, devcontainer.json, and any additional configuration files for specific development tools.

Define the Dockerfile for the Development Environment:
    Create a Dockerfile inside the .devcontainer folder. This Dockerfile should:
        Install all required dependencies for the project (e.g., Python, Node.js, Java, database clients, etc.).
        Set up any specific tools or services needed for development (e.g., linters, debuggers, testing tools).
        Expose relevant ports if necessary (e.g., for running local servers or databases).
        Ensure that the container has the same development environment for every user.

Create a devcontainer.json Configuration File:
    Create a devcontainer.json file inside the .devcontainer directory to specify the configuration for GitHub Codespaces.
        Define settings like the version of Codespaces, extensions to install (e.g., VS Code extensions), forwarded ports, and post-creation tasks.
        Ensure that the file sets up any necessary configurations like environment variables, IDE extensions (e.g., Python, Docker, etc.), or specific settings for the code editor.

Install Required Extensions for VS Code:
    In the devcontainer.json file, specify any extensions that are useful for the project. Some common extensions could include:
        Python (for Python projects)
        Docker (for managing Docker containers)
        Prettier, ESLint, or other linters (for JavaScript/TypeScript projects)
        GitHub Pull Requests and Issues (for better GitHub integration)

Define Post-creation Setup Scripts (if needed):
    Add a post-creation script that automatically installs any additional dependencies or sets up the environment after the Codespace is created (e.g., running pip install for Python dependencies, npm install for Node.js projects, etc.).

Test the Development Environment:
    Launch a Codespace using the created .devcontainer configuration to ensure that the environment is correctly set up.
    Verify that all dependencies are correctly installed, the environment is fully functional, and the developer can run and test the application without issues.
    Ensure the environment is pre-configured with useful tools for debugging and code quality checks (e.g., linters, formatters).

Update the README.md for GitHub Codespaces Setup:
    Add a section to the repository’s README.md file explaining how to use the GitHub Codespaces environment.
    Provide instructions on how to launch the Codespace, how to open the repository in Codespaces, and any additional setup steps if necessary.
    Include troubleshooting tips or common issues users might encounter when using the development environment.

Ensure Version Control and Documentation:
    Commit all the configuration files to the repository, including:
        .devcontainer/Dockerfile
        .devcontainer/devcontainer.json
        .devcontainer/post-create.sh (if applicable)
        Updated README.md
    Ensure that these files are properly version-controlled to track any changes to the development environment configuration.

Expected Outcome:

A fully-configured development environment in GitHub Codespaces will be created and ready for all contributors.
The repository will contain all necessary configurations, dependencies, and setup instructions to ensure a seamless development experience in Codespaces.
Developers can launch a fully functional, pre-configured environment for the project with a single click in GitHub Codespaces.

Requirements:

GitHub Codespaces must be enabled for the repository.
Developers need to have the necessary permissions to create and update the repository configurations.