How to run xeyes in Docker Ubuntu?

Question

My goal is to do X11 forwarding. The first step is to make sure xeyes works. However, when I tried to run xeyes, it throws error

The command

(base) jason@Jasons-Mac-mini darkmark-docker-web % docker run -it --rm --net=host -e DISPLAY -v $HOME/.Xauthority:/root/.Xauthority  my-xeyes
Error: Can't open display: /private/tmp/com.apple.launchd.abcde/org.xquartz:0

FROM debian:latest
RUN apt-get update && apt-get install -y \
      x11-apps \
      && rm -rf /usr/share/doc/* && \
      rm -rf /usr/share/info/* && \
      rm -rf /tmp/* && \
      rm -rf /var/tmp/*

RUN useradd -ms /bin/bash user
USER user
CMD xeyes

Answer 1

I can do it two ways. I use alpine but it is still X11 provided via XQuartz.

Both methods tested with:

• macOS Ventura 13.1
• Docker Desktop 14.6.2
• XQuartz 2.8.2

---

This one needs socat:

# Install socat and XQuartz
brew install socat
brew cask install xquartz

socat TCP-LISTEN:6000,reuseaddr,fork UNIX-CLIENT:\"$DISPLAY\" &

# Ensure XQuartz and docker are started - you can do this graphically too
open -a XQuartz
open -a docker

# Run alpine latest
docker run -it -e DISPLAY=host.docker.internal:0 alpine:latest

# Inside docker container. Install and run xeyes
/ # apk update && apk add xeyes && xeyes

---

This one doesn't need socat:

# Start XQuartz - could equally do it with Spotlight Search
open -a XQuartz

Goto XQuartz->Settings->Security and check "Authenticate Connections" and "Allow connections from network clients"

Stop and restart XQuartz - wait till it is running

xhost + $(hostname)
MarkBookPro.local being added to access control list

# Start alpine image
docker run --rm  -e DISPLAY=host.docker.internal:0 -it alpine

# Inside docker container. Install and run xeyes
/ # apk update && apk add xeyes && xeyes