first working example

Author: root

.devcontainer/features/devcontainer-feature.json

@@ -3,7 +3,8 @@
     "id": "BASH",
     "version": "1.0.0",
     "containerEnv": {
-        "CONFIG_FOLDER": "/devcontainer_rc"
+        "CONFIG_FOLDER": "/devcontainer_rc",
+        "CONFIG_STAGING": "/devcontainer_staging"
     },
     "description": "Make default BASH terminal nicer.",
     // "options": {
@@ -20,7 +21,7 @@
             "type": "bind"
         }
     ],
-    "onCreateCommand": "bash .devcontainer/features/onCreateCommand.sh"
+    "onCreateCommand": "bash /devcontainer_staging/onCreateCommand.sh"
     // wack below into /devcontainer_rc/.bashrc
     // delete this line if you do not want opinionated defaults
     // source .devcontainer_rc/.bash_generated.sh

.devcontainer/features/install.sh

@@ -1,2 +1,73 @@
 #!/bin/bash
 
+mkdir -p $CONFIG_STAGING
+
+# -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+cat > $CONFIG_STAGING/onCreateCommand.sh  \
+<< EOF
+#!/bin/bash
+
+# copy in the opinionated default settings from the feature
+cp $CONFIG_STAGING/feature_settings_rc $CONFIG_FOLDER/feature_settings_rc
+
+# copy in the user editable settings unless they already exist
+if [[ ! -f $CONFIG_FOLDER/bashrc ]] ; then
+    cp $CONFIG_STAGING/bashrc $CONFIG_FOLDER    
+    cp $CONFIG_STAGING/inputrc $CONFIG_FOLDER
+fi
+
+# hook in the config to the root account
+ln -s $CONFIG_FOLDER/inputrc /root/.inputrc
+echo "source $CONFIG_FOLDER/bashrc" >> /root/.bashrc
+EOF
+
+# -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+cat > $CONFIG_STAGING/inputrc  \
+<< EOF
+# Readline configuration for bash shell.
+
+# unbind ctrl P and ctrl Q
+"\C-p": nop
+# "\C-q": nop
+
+# Incremental history searching with up and down arrows (C-P and C-N for old
+# style navigation).
+"\e[A": history-search-backward
+"\e[B": history-search-forward
+
+# Control left and right for word movement
+"\e[5C": forward-word
+"\e[5D": backward-word
+# On RHEL6 we get these bindings instead:
+"\e[1;5C": forward-word
+"\e[1;5D": backward-word
+EOF
+
+# -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+cat > $CONFIG_STAGING/bashrc  \
+<< EOF
+#!/bin/bash
+
+# execute default opinionated settings - delete this line to remove defaults
+source $CONFIG_FOLDER/feature_settings_rc
+
+# add your personal custom settings below
+EOF
+
+# -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+cat > $CONFIG_STAGING/feature_settings_rc  \
+<< EOF
+#!/bin/bash
+
+# default opinioned bash configuration
+
+# set the prompt
+export PS1='\W # '
+
+# enable enternal shared history
+export HISTCONTROL=ignoreboth:erasedups
+export HISTFILESIZE=-1
+export SAVEHIST=-1
+export HISTFILE=$CONFIG_FOLDER/.bash_eternal_history
+PROMPT_COMMAND="history -a; $PROMPT_COMMAND"
+EOF