🤖 ros2env - Simplifying ROS2 Development

ros2env is a Visual Studio Code extension that helps you manage isolated ROS2 environments with ease - start, stop, switch, and interact with them directly from your editor.

Whether you're working on multiple ROS2 projects or want to simplify environment switching, ros2env provides a seamless developer experience inside VS Code.

🌐 Visit the Landing Page – Explore features, guides, and videos in one place.

🎥 Demonstration Videos

🎥 Demo Video (Watch here)

🎥 Step by Step Installation Video (Watch here)

✨ Why ros2env?

• 🚀 No more conflicting ROS2 installations
• 🐳 Docker powered isolation (fully abstracted)
• 🔄 Seamless environment switching
• 💻 Works across Windows, Mac and Linux
• 🖥️ GUI tools accessible via browser (RViz, Gazebo, etc.)

🚀 Features

• 🔍 Discover available ROS2 environments
• ▶️ Start or stop environments with one command
• 🧠 Open a ready-to-use terminal inside the environment workspace (ros2_ws)
• 🪟 Launch GUI apps from your environment (via browser-based interface)
• ➕ Create or 🗑️ delete environments easily
• 🧭 Treat each environment like a virtual ROS2 workspace

🧰 Requirements

Before using ros2env, ensure the following is installed on your system:

• Visual Studio Code ( >= v1.80.0)
• Docker (used under the hood)
• OR WSL Docker (if you're using Windows Subsystem for Linux)

💡 Docker is required to isolate and manage environments behind the scenes. You don't need to know Docker to use ros2env.

📦 Installation

Simply search for ros2env in the VS Code Marketplace and click install.

🧪 Getting Started

➕ 1. Create a new ROS2 Environment

1. Open the Command Palette (Ctrl+Shift+P or Cmd+Shift+P on Mac)
2. Run: ROS2: Create Environment
3. Enter a name for your new environment (e.g., my_ros2env)
4. Choose a ROS 2 distro (e.g., rolling, humble, etc.)
5. Wait for setup to complete (you’ll see progress)

🎉 A new isolated ROS2 environment will be created with a ready-to-use workspace.

🔁 2. Load (Switch to) an Environment

1. Open Command Palette again
2. Run: ROS2: Load Environment
3. Select one of your previously created environments

This will:

• Start the environment (if stopped)
• Stop any running environment (if different)
• Attach an interactive terminal inside ros2_ws

💻 3. Open a ROS 2 Terminal

• Run: ROS2: Open Terminal
• This opens a terminal already inside your ROS2 workspace

You're ready to build, source, and run ROS2 nodes like usual.

🖥️ 4. Launch GUI Tools

• Run: ROS2: Open GUI
• This opens a browser tab with access to graphical tools (RViz, Gazebo, etc.)

GUI support is provided via an embedded desktop accessible through your browser.

🛑 5. Stop an Environment

• Run: ROS2: Stop Environment
• This shuts down the running environment and closes terminals

🗑️ 6. Delete an Environment

• Run: ROS2: Delete Environment
• Select one or more environments to remove permanently

⚠️ This will stop and delete the selected environments. Use with caution.

💬 Support and Feedback

• Have questions? Join Discussions
• Found a bug? Report an Issue

🛡️ License

MIT License © Sakshay Mahna

🧩 Related Links

• 🌐 Landing Page
• 📦 VSCode Marketplace Extension Page
• 📄 Discussions / Feedback
• 🛠️ Report an Issue