🚀 Modern Linux Tools 🚀

This project packages a suite of cutting-edge command-line tools into portable Docker and Singularity containers, providing a modern, powerful, and consistent environment for developers on AlmaLinux 9 and CentOS 7.

✨ Project Overview

This is a Modern Linux Tools containerization project that packages cutting-edge command-line tools into Docker containers for AlmaLinux 9 and CentOS 7. The project creates portable environments with modern alternatives to traditional Unix tools like ripgrep (rg), bat, fd, fzf, and many others.

The setupMe.sh script can also be used to serve Singularity Sandbox deployments (if deployed on CVMFS) as a virtual environment on host machines, making the tools accessible directly on the host system without containerization.

🏗️ Architecture

🧩 Core Components

• 🐳 Dockerfiles: Build containers with pre-installed modern tools
  • alma9-linuxtools.Dockerfile - Primary AlmaLinux 9 based container
  • centos7-linuxtools.Dockerfile - CentOS 7 based container
• ⚙️ Setup Scripts: Environment initialization and tool management
  • setupMe.sh - Main setup script for initializing the micromamba environment and tools
  • entrypoint.sh - Docker container entrypoint that sources setup scripts
  • _activate_current_env.sh - Micromamba environment activation helper
• 📚 Tool Documentation:
  • list-of-tools.md - Comprehensive list of all included modern tools

📦 Package Management Strategy

The project uses micromamba as the primary package manager instead of traditional package managers. All tools are installed through conda-forge channels using micromamba, which provides:

• ⚡ Fast, lightweight package management
• 🌐 Cross-platform compatibility
• 🛡️ Easy environment isolation

🧰 Tool Categories

Tools are organized into functional categories:

• 🔍 Search/Explorer: ripgrep (rg), ugrep, fzf, skim, fd-find, broot
• 📁 File Management: yazi, lsd-rust, bat, glow-md, duf, dust, rip2
• 💻 Process/System: procs, btop, mcfly
• 🐙 Git Tools: gh, git-delta, git-lfs, lazygit
• 🧑‍💻 Development: rust, cargo, uv (Python), tealdeer (tldr)
• 🤖 AI Tools: gemini-cli, claude-code, copilot-api, goose
• 🐳 Container Tools: crane, dive
• 🔧 Utilities: hyperfine, direnv, zellij

For a detailed explanation of each tool, please refer to the Doc-of-tools.md.

⌨️ Common Commands

🧱 Building Containers

# Build AlmaLinux 9 container
docker build -f alma9-linuxtools.Dockerfile -t modern-linuxtools:alma9 .

# Build CentOS 7 container  
docker build -f centos7-linuxtools.Dockerfile -t modern-linuxtools:centos7 .

▶️ Running Containers

# Run interactive container with tools activated
docker run -it modern-linuxtools:alma9

# Run with volume mount for persistent work
docker run -it -v $(pwd):/workspace modern-linuxtools:alma9

🌳 Environment Management

# Source the setup script (automatically done in containers)
source setupMe.sh

# For Singularity/CVMFS deployments on host machines:
# Source setupMe.sh from the deployed path to activate tools in host environment
source /cvmfs/unpacked.cern.ch/registry.hub.docker.com/yesw2000/modern-linuxtools:alma9_x86-latest/setupMe.sh

# The Alma9 container is also compatible with CentOS7 hosts due to its reliance on glibc version 2.17.

# List all available tools with descriptions
list_tools

# Create new micromamba environment
mamba_new myenv

# Use git diff with delta highlighting
git_delta [git-diff-args]

💡 Tool Usage Examples

# Search files with ripgrep
rg "pattern" --type py

# Interactive file finder
fzf

# Modern ls replacement
lsd -la

# View files with syntax highlighting  
bat filename.py

# Process viewer
procs

# System monitor
btop

# Get quick help for any tool
tldr <command>

🖥️ On-host Virtual Environment

When using the on-host virtual environment by sourcing setupMe.sh, you will see the following message:

🚀 Modern Linux tools (micromamba, tldr, rg, and more) are now available!

- Run `list_tools` to view the complete list of new tools.
- For command usage, run `<command> --help` (e.g., `rg --help`).
- For quick examples (except for gemini, copilot-api, and goose),
  use `tldr <command>` (e.g., `tldr rg`).
A wrapper function `git_delta` is defined. Run `git_delta -h` for help

📝 Development Notes

• The setup script (setupMe.sh) handles architecture detection and micromamba initialization
• The script can be used both in Docker containers and as a virtual environment activator for Singularity/CVMFS deployments on host systems
• Tools are installed via micromamba to ensure consistent versions across environments
• The git_delta function wraps git diff with delta for enhanced output
• Cache directories are configured for optimal performance (tealdeer cache in CONDA_PREFIX)
• The entrypoint script enables bash with the setup script as rcfile for immediate tool availability

✍️ File Modifications

When modifying setup scripts, ensure:

• Architecture compatibility checks remain in place
• Micromamba environment activation works correctly
• Tool aliases and functions are preserved
• Cache directory configurations are maintained