# How to copy your MAVSDK Python Docker container and edit the files?
Source: https://forum.modalai.com/topic/236/how-to-copy-your-mavsdk-python-docker-container-and-edit-the-files
Category: General Questions (https://forum.modalai.com/category/2/general-questions)
Posted: 2021-05-10 22:18:24 UTC by Alfonso Ponce
Replies: 8 · Views: 2067
## Alfonso Ponce · 2021-05-10 22:18:24 UTC
Hello! I'm new to Dockers, as well as everything about drones basically. I have done everything needed to run the takeoff_and_land2.py file using MAVSDK Python using your documentation. What I want to try now is do the exact same (using a Docker container) but instead of running the takeoff_and_land2.py file use another python code to experiment.
How am I able to copy your container and just replace the .py files for other .py files and begin experimenting with the drone (I use an m500 and a Linux host PC)? Is this the easiest way to do this (using Docker containers)?
Thank you!
## Reply by Chad Sweet (ModalAI staff) · 2021-05-10 23:00:08 UTC
Great to hear you got the tutorial up and running.
One thing you could do is use the '-v' option of docker run to share a directory between the docker and base image, documentation here: https://docs.docker.com/engine/reference/commandline/run/
You can edit your code on your PC and push to the target in the shared folder to access inside of the Docker
## Reply by ryan_meagher · 2021-05-12 07:25:50 UTC
You can add a directory from your host machine which has whatever python files you wish to add via adding a src directory path and mapping it to a path in the containers file structure.
```
docker run -it --rm -v /host_src_dir_path:/container_dir_path --privileged --net=host ![]()
:
```
Upon running the docker container, the directory from /host_src_dir_path will be available at /container_dir_path
## Reply by Alfonso Ponce · 2021-05-12 23:08:45 UTC (in reply to ryan_meagher)
Thank you very much @ryan_meagher
I just have some basic questions about this you're telling me. Remember I'm new to this :(
According to the instructions in this README repository from ModalAI:
https://gitlab.com/voxl-public/voxl-docker-images/voxl-docker-mavsdk-python
I’ve been able to do everything for the example program to run in the drone, however I’m not sure which is the container’s directory path that I need to add in the command you’re telling me. The directory in my host machine is just the path where the .py files would be right? Also, I haven't build the image (as it says it's optional) because I'm not sure what benefits does that bring. I don't even know if I have to build the image inside the drone or inside my computer.
Anyway, here are the commands I use to make an SSH connection to the drone and start the terminal.
```
(base) ponchoponce95@ponchoponce95-Lenovo-Y50-70:~$ ssh root@10.96.67.121
root@10.96.67.121's password:
~ # docker run -it --rm --privileged --net=host gcr.io/modalai-public/voxl-mavsdk-python:v1.1 /bin/bash
root@apq8096:/home#
```
So in order to access my .py files in my computer, instead of typing:
```
docker run -it --rm --privileged --net=host gcr.io/modalai-public/voxl-mavsdk-python:v1.1 /bin/bash
```
I must type:
```
docker run -it --rm -v /Home/Rutinas:/home --privileged --net=host gcr.io/modalai-public/voxl-mavsdk-python:v1.1 /bin/bash
```
???
Because that last command is telling me that it can't find the .py files that I have inside my Rutinas folder.
## Reply by modaltb (ModalAI staff) · 2021-05-13 16:12:15 UTC
First off, thanks @ryan_meagher for the assitance!!!
@Alfonso-Ponce ,
Although you can build on a host computer, you need to understand how to build for ARM, so if you aren't comfortable with that it's easier to build on target (on the VOXL). Here's a good overview: https://www.stereolabs.com/docs/docker/building-arm-container-on-x86/
A docker container is typically a self contained "box", and you can build the files into the container at BUILD time of said container.
Like @ryan_meagher mentioned, you can also use mounting to 'copy' files into the container at startup, for example, here's the source to the voxl-docker script (used on host computer) to mount files into the container from the current working directory: https://gitlab.com/voxl-public/utilities/voxl-docker/-/blob/master/files/voxl-docker.sh#L102
What you have above needs to be updated to valid paths ON THE VOXL. `/Home/Rutinas` likely doesn't exist on VOXL.... unless you've made a 'Rutinas' diectory
Here's a defeault `/home`
```
/home # ls
adb audio camera input root system
apps bluetooth graphics radio sensors
```
You could instead make a new directory put the files you want to mount in `/home/root/rutinas`
```
/home # cd root/
~ # ls
my_ros_env.sh voxl-suite-ipk
~ # mkdir rutinas
~ # cd rutinas/
~/rutinas # pwd
/home/root/rutinas
```
If you mount it like this `/home/root/rutinas:/home` you will 'overwrite' or hide the default `/home` in the docker container btw, so the original files will be gone (e.g. all the files copied here...)
https://gitlab.com/voxl-public/voxl-docker-images/voxl-docker-mavsdk-python/-/blob/master/Dockerfile#L27
So you want to mount to another place inside the container likely, perhaps:
`/home/root/rutinas:/home/rutinas`
## Reply by Alfonso Ponce · 2021-05-13 20:01:04 UTC (in reply to modaltb)
@modaltb
Thank you very much again. Now I understand much more. The build-image.sh file that was in the repository is just a code that builds the image inside the VOXL even though I run it in my PC. In the beginning I thought that this file had to be run inside the VOXL.
Ok so I just built the image using that file and everything went well (I understand the image was built inside VOXL). I created a directory just like you mentioned inside the VOXL and I know how to copy my python files to the new directory I created inside the VOXL, until there everything fine. Now, how do I know the containers directory? How do I acces to it? How do I create a new folder in it if I don't know where it is? :(
And finally, does it matter where do I mount my files inside the container? If I run the
```
python3 my_own_exampe.py udp://:14551
```
Will it find it? Or where is that original takeoff_and_land2.py file inside the container?
In other words, how do I browse inside the container?
Thank you! And sorry for all these basic questions.
## Reply by Alfonso Ponce · 2021-05-13 21:52:19 UTC (in reply to modaltb)
@modaltb Ok so I can see that by looking at the Dockerfile you linked, the directories of the container are listed there, but I still don't know how can I create a new directory inside /home for example.
## Reply by Guest · 2021-05-14 10:46:32 UTC (in reply to Alfonso Ponce)
@Alfonso-Ponce
You surf in the terminal in docker or home like a standard linux terminal. So,
I think you should check first [this for Linux commands](https://www.howtogeek.com/412055/37-important-linux-commands-you-should-know/) and then [this](https://towardsdatascience.com/15-docker-commands-you-should-know-970ea5203421) for Docker commands.
## Reply by Alfonso Ponce · 2021-05-17 16:05:21 UTC (in reply to Guest)
@Voxlady Thank you! In the end I was finally able to understand better how the VOXL shell and the Docker image/container were working together. I was able to mount the volume just like they recommended and I could send my .py files and execute them.