Add Dev Container + WSL install docs and link in install guide (#944) (#951)

documentation/.vitepress/config.mts

@@ -138,6 +138,7 @@ export default defineConfig({
             link: "/docs/install/kustomize",
           },
           { text: "Unraid 🧡", link: "/docs/install/unraid" },
+          { text: "Dev Container + WSL 🧰", link: "/docs/install/dev_container_wsl" },
 
           {
             text: "With A Reverse Proxy",

documentation/docs/install/dev_container_wsl.md

@@ -0,0 +1,167 @@
+# Dev Container + WSL 🧰
+
+Running AdventureLog in a **Dev Container** allows you to contribute to the project or work on features locally in a fully reproducible development environment with hot reloading, debugging, and tooling isolated inside Docker.
+
+This guide focuses on **Windows using WSL 2**, but the workflow is similar on other platforms.
+
+## Prerequisites
+
+Before starting, ensure you have the following installed:
+
+* **Docker Desktop**
+  Download from: [https://www.docker.com/products/docker-desktop/](https://www.docker.com/products/docker-desktop/)
+
+  > Docker Desktop must be configured to use **WSL 2**
+
+* **WSL 2 with a Linux distribution installed**
+  Ubuntu is recommended.
+
+  ```bash
+  wsl --install -d Ubuntu
+  ```
+
+* **Visual Studio Code**
+  [https://code.visualstudio.com/](https://code.visualstudio.com/)
+
+* **VS Code Extensions**
+
+  * Dev Containers
+  * WSL
+
+## ⚠️ Important Notes (Read First)
+
+> **TIP**
+> Do not use the `docker-desktop` WSL distribution for development.
+> Always use a real Linux distro such as **Ubuntu**.
+
+> **TIP**
+> Avoid working in `/mnt/c/...`.
+> Clone and work inside your Linux home directory (`/home/<user>`), otherwise file watching and container mounts may behave incorrectly.
+
+> **TIP**
+> Docker must be available *inside* WSL. Make sure WSL integration is enabled in Docker Desktop:
+>
+> **Docker Desktop → Settings → Resources → WSL Integration → Enable Ubuntu**
+
+## Getting Started
+
+### 1. Clone the Repository (inside WSL)
+
+Open **Ubuntu (WSL)** and run:
+
+```bash
+cd ~
+git clone https://github.com/seanmorley15/AdventureLog.git
+cd AdventureLog
+```
+
+> **TIP**
+> If you plan to contribute changes, fork the repository on GitHub and clone your fork instead:
+>
+> ```bash
+> git clone https://github.com/<your-username>/AdventureLog.git
+> ```
+
+### 2. Create the Development `.env` File
+
+```bash
+cp .env.example .env
+```
+
+This creates the `.env` file required for the containers to start.
+
+> **NOTE**
+> The application will start without modifying `.env`. The default values provided in `.env.example` are sufficient for running the project.
+
+#### Environment Variables
+
+The Dev Container setup uses the same `.env` configuration as the standard Docker installation.
+
+For a full list of available environment variables and optional configuration options, see the
+[**Docker 🐋 installation guide**](docker.md#configuration).
+
+### 3. Open the Project in VS Code (via WSL)
+
+From the project directory:
+
+```bash
+code .
+```
+
+VS Code should indicate that the folder is opened **in WSL**.
+
+### 4. Reopen the Project in a Dev Container
+
+In VS Code:
+
+1. Press **Ctrl + Shift + P**
+2. Select **Dev Containers: Reopen in Container**
+
+VS Code will:
+
+* Build the development containers
+* Install dependencies
+* Attach the editor to the running container
+
+The first build may take a few minutes.
+
+## Running the Application
+
+Once the Dev Container is running, the services are started using Docker Compose.
+
+If not started automatically, run:
+
+```bash
+docker compose up
+```
+
+## Accessing the App
+
+* **Frontend (Web UI)**
+  [http://localhost:8015](http://localhost:8015)
+
+* **Backend (API)**
+  [http://localhost:8016](http://localhost:8016)
+
+Admin credentials are taken from your `.env` file.
+
+## Common Issues
+
+### Docker Not Found Inside WSL
+
+If you see:
+
+```
+The command 'docker' could not be found in this WSL 2 distro
+```
+
+Ensure:
+
+* Docker Desktop is running
+* WSL integration is enabled for **Ubuntu**
+* Docker Desktop has been restarted after enabling integration
+
+### Accidentally Using `/mnt/c`
+
+If the project lives under `/mnt/c/...`, move it to:
+
+```bash
+/home/<user>/AdventureLog
+```
+
+This avoids performance issues and file watcher bugs.
+
+## Dev vs Production
+
+| Feature      | Docker Install  | Dev Container      |
+| ------------ | --------------- | ------------------ |
+| Intended use | Running the app | Developing the app |
+| Hot reload   | ❌               | ✅                  |
+| Debugging    | ❌               | ✅                  |
+| Code editing | ❌               | ✅                  |
+
+For production or personal hosting, follow the standard
+[**Docker 🐋 installation guide**](docker.md).
+
+Enjoy contributing to AdventureLog! 🎉
+If you run into issues not covered here, please open a discussion or issue so the docs can be improved.

documentation/docs/install/getting_started.md

@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ Perfect for Docker beginners.
 
 ## ⚙️ Advanced & Alternative Setups
 
-- [Nginx Proxy Manager](nginx_proxy_manager.md) — Easy reverse proxy config
+- [Dev Container + WSL](dev_container_wsl.md) - Windows dev environment with WSL 2 + Dev Containers
+- [Nginx Proxy Manager](nginx_proxy_manager.md) - Easy reverse proxy config
 - [Traefik](traefik.md) — Dynamic reverse proxy with automation
 - [Caddy](caddy.md) — Automatic HTTPS with a clean config