Get started with your Developer Sandbox for Red Hat OpenShift

Learning path | 3 resources | 20 mins | Published on March 1, 2024

This activity, created by Don Schenck, will show you how to set up and use the Developer Sandbox for Red Hat OpenShift. With the Developer Sandbox, you experience hands-on learning resources without setup or configuration, and learn to develop quicker than ever before.

  1. Overview: Get started with your Developer Sandbox for Red Hat OpenShift
  2. Build your application from source code Page | 10 mins
  3. Build your application from a container image Page | 10 mins

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Build your application from source code

C# Containers Go Java Kubernetes Microservices Node.js Python Ruby
Don Schenck
Developer Sandbox

The very first step, if you haven't already done it, is to get over to the Developer Sandbox for Red Hat OpenShift page and get a free OpenShift cluster. You'll also be joining the Red Hat Developer Program if you aren't already a member, which provides some incredible benefits.

In order to get full benefit from taking this lesson, you need to:

In this lesson, you will:

  • Set up your Developer Sandbox
  • Set up a cluster
  • Build the application from source code

Get that cluster

Once you've secured your own cluster, select Start using your sandbox to begin your future (Figure 1).

Select Start using your sandbox.
Figure 1: Select Start using your sandbox.

 Build the application from source code

To build your application using source code from a GitHub repository (repo), start by switching to the Developer view in your OpenShift dashboard (Figure 2).

The Developer view in your OpenShift dashboard.
Figure 2: The Developer view in your OpenShift dashboard.

Next, select +Add to display the many options available for adding an application to your cluster (Figure 3).

Select +Add to display the available options.
Figure 3: Select +Add to display the available options.

In our case, we are interested in the Git Repository/Import from Git option. Select Import from Git (Figure 4).

Selecting Import from Git will build an application from your source code.
Figure 4: Selecting Import from Git will build an application from your source code.

You will be prompted to enter a URL that points to a Git repo. This is where things get interesting. Red Hat OpenShift will copy the repo to an internal storage location, inspect it, and attempt to discern the import strategy to build it. OpenShift will choose one of the following methods to build the application:

  • Option 1: Using the Builder image for the programming language used (i.e., the s2i option).
  • Option 2: Using the Dockerfile that is found in the Git repo.
  • Option 3: Using the DevFile that is found in the Git Repo.

Again, we’re focusing on Option 1 right now: Using the Builder image and the s2i technology. The Builder image is determined by inspecting the source code and may be .NET, JBoss, Perl, or one of several other options. Here are some URLs of sample code that you can use for their related languages:

Test your application

Supply the URL and move to the bottom of the page to select the Resource type (Figure 5).

Select the Resource type for advanced options.
Figure 5: Select the Resource type for advanced options.

Select Deployment as the Resource type. Select Create (Figure 6).

Select Deployment as the Resource type.
Figure 6: Select Deployment as the Resource type.

After a few minutes, the ring on your application's icon will switch from light blue to dark blue, which means it's ready to go. Select the external link image to see your application in a browser (Figure 7).

Click to launch your app in a browser.
Figure 7: Click to launch your app in a browser.

Congratulations. You've built an application from source code. Now it's time to build your application from a container image.

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