VS Code Container Tools Extension Adds Copilot Integration
VS Code Container Tools Extension

Credit: Microsoft

Managing containers has always been one of the more repetitive and disruptive parts of modern development. Switching contexts, memorizing CLI commands, and digging through logs can quickly pull developers out of flow. The latest update to the VS Code Container Tools extension aims to solve this by bringing Copilot directly into the container workflow.

Copilot Becomes Your Container Assistant

The headline feature of this release is Ask Copilot, which lets developers manage and investigate containers through a simple conversational interface. By right-clicking any container or image and starting a chat, Copilot can:

  • Inspect running containers

  • Pull logs and highlight key issues

  • Surface configuration details

  • Suggest fixes or next steps

  • Execute actions like restarts directly from VS Code

This shifts container management from command-heavy to conversation-driven, keeping developers focused on the code rather than the tooling.

Goodbye Terminal Hopping

Restarting a container no longer requires jumping into a terminal or remembering command sequences. Just ask Copilot. The extension handles the execution, reports progress, and confirms the container state — all inside VS Code.

A Smarter Troubleshooting Flow

A typical session now looks like this:

  1. A container crashes.

  2. You right-click it and select Ask Copilot.

  3. Copilot scans the logs, identifies the error, and suggests a fix.

  4. You tell Copilot to restart the container.

  5. The container is back up, and you’re already coding again.

What used to be a multi-step workflow turns into a single, natural interaction.

Designed to Keep Developers in Flow

The biggest win here isn’t fewer commands — it’s fewer interruptions. Copilot integration removes friction from container management so developers can stay in flow, solve problems faster, and avoid the mental cost of context switching.

Get Started

These features are available today. To try the updated experience:

  1. Open VS Code

  2. Update the Container Tools extension

  3. Right-click any container or image

  4. Select Ask Copilot

This release marks a meaningful shift in how developers interact with containers, making the process more intuitive and tightly integrated with everyday coding.

Update today and bring conversational container management into your workflow.