miti.sh/docs/2023-10-08-start-erlangs-dialyzer-with-gui-from-a-docker-container.md

{ id: "start-erlangs-dialyzer-with-gui-from-a-docker-container" }

---

title: "Start Erlang's Dialyzer With GUI From A Docker Container" blurb: "Everything in OTP is command-line driven, so using containers during development has been without issue. But, Dialyzer, Erlang's static analysis tool, actually has a Graphical User Interface. How can we still use Dialyzer and its GUI even though Elixir is running inside a container?" ...

I use Docker mostly when working on software projects and I figured out how to get Erlang's Dialyzer GUI working in a Docker container.

1. Start a container with X11 forwarding:

   $ docker run -it --rm --net=host -e "DISPLAY" -e "NO_AT_BRIDGE=1" \
   -v "$XAUTHORITY:/root/.Xauthority:rw" elixir bash
   

2. Build "the recommended minimal PLT for Erlang/OTP":

   # dialyzer --build_plt --apps erts kernel stdlib mnesia
   Creating PLT /root/.cache/erlang/.dialyzer_plt ...
   ...
   done (warnings were emitted)
   

3. Start the Dialyzer GUI:

   a. From the command line:

        # dialyzer --gui
   

   b. From inside an IEx session:

    1. Start the Dialyzer application:
   
        ```elixir
        iex(1)> Application.load(:dialyzer)
        :ok
        ```
   
    2. Start the Dialyzer GUI:
   
        ```elixir
        iex(2)> :dialyzer.gui()
        ```
   

You should now see the Dialyzer GUI.