Learn to program with Minecraft – Docker edition.

This blog post by Michael Ducy describes how he used Docker and Visual Studio Code to simplify setting up a programming environment for his son, who wanted to learn to code using Minecraft. Initially, they faced challenges with the book "Learn to Program with Minecraft" due to complexities in installing the necessary software like Python 3.6 and Spigot on a Mac, which led to debugging issues and conflicts with the local system's Python version. To address these, Ducy leveraged Docker to create a more manageable and resettable development environment, allowing them to run both the Minecraft server and the Python environment within containers. This approach made it easier to install and manage necessary tools, such as the py3minepi library and the RaspberryJuice plugin, without altering the local system significantly. The setup involved creating Docker containers for both the server and development environment, using Docker Compose for efficient and repeatable server management, and adapting scripts to connect to the Dockerized Minecraft server. Ducy highlights the ease and flexibility Docker provides in creating disposable development environments, allowing his son to learn programming in a more streamlined and problem-free manner.