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Install Docker Desktop

Adaptive Learner runs as a small set of containers on your own machine. The desktop launcher starts and stops those containers for you, but it needs Docker to be installed and running first. This guide walks you through installing Docker Desktop.

What you need

  • About 800 MB of download for Docker Desktop itself.
  • About 2 GB of disk for the Adaptive Learner image on the first run (this happens once; later starts are fast).
  • A few minutes for the first build (5-10 minutes is normal).

Install

  1. Open the official Docker Desktop download page: docs.docker.com/desktop.
  2. Download the installer for your operating system (Windows, macOS, or Linux).
  3. Run the installer and follow the prompts. Accept the defaults unless you have a reason to change them.
  4. Start Docker Desktop and wait until its whale icon shows "Docker Desktop is running".

Start the launcher

Once Docker Desktop is running, start the Adaptive Learner launcher again. It checks Docker first, then downloads, builds, and starts the app, and finally offers an "Open in browser" button.

If Docker is not yet running when you start the launcher, it shows a notice with a "Start Docker" button so you can bring it up without leaving the launcher.

Is Docker safe to install?

Yes. Docker Desktop is made by Docker, Inc., a well-known company, and is used by millions of developers worldwide. It is the standard way to run containerized applications on a personal computer.

Adaptive Learner uses Docker only to run its own containers on your machine. Your learning data stays local; nothing about your data is sent to Docker, Inc. by installing Docker. You can uninstall Docker Desktop at any time from your operating system, the same as any other application.

Troubleshooting

  • The launcher says Docker is not running. Start Docker Desktop and wait for the "running" state, then click "Retry".
  • The port is already in use. The launcher detects this and offers an alternative port; accept the suggestion.
  • Something else went wrong. Re-run the launcher with the --debug flag and share the generated launcher-debug.log:
python3 -m adaptive_learner_launcher --debug