Cannot use it with Docker

[joaogabrielzo]

I tried to Dockerize my application and everytime I get "Pyperclip could not find a copy/paste mechanism for your system."

I have tried installing xclip, xsel and the Python packages that might be needed, but I still be getting this error.

I tried using ubuntu:18.04 base image.

[loopinf]

Same behavior with me.

[ra100]

Seems we have the same/similar issue, we're using pyperclip with RobotFramework, using just pyperclip.copy(text) and pyperclip.paste() and when we run it locally, it works fine. But inside the docker we always get empty string from the clipboard.

[lovelytxm]

This also happens with me. i try to run robotframework on Docker. but this pyperclip is not work.

[merwok]

It’s not just about the program used to access the clipboard, but sharing the system resources that are accessed by these programs to work with clipboard.

[lovelytxm]

Hi,
I fixed the issue now. need to simulate a display in docker. It works well.
steps:

1. apt-get install xvfb
2. apt-get install xclip
3. set a display
   a. /# Xvfb :99 -screen 0 1280x720x16 &
   b. /# export DISPLAY=:99

[rightx2]

I've tried but using pyperclip failed...

Below is part of my Dockerfile

...
RUN apt-get install -y xclip xvfb
RUN Xvfb :99 -screen 0 1280x720x16 &
RUN export DISPLAY=:99

Did I miss something?

[merwok]

yes, xvfb creates a fake X context so that X programs can work. it’s not the same as giving access to the host X server.

[rightx2]

@merwok Could you explain more?.. .. and I'd like to know how can I solve this in docker..

[merwok]

this isn’t the place to explain how X clients connect to the X server, but here are examples of docker containers and run commands for graphical apps: https://blog.jessfraz.com/post/docker-containers-on-the-desktop/#guis

[caarmen]

I've tried but using pyperclip failed...

Below is part of my Dockerfile

...
RUN apt-get install -y xclip xvfb
RUN Xvfb :99 -screen 0 1280x720x16 &
RUN export DISPLAY=:99

Did I miss something?

I tried this and it worked for my use case:

RUN apt-get install -y xclip xvfb
ENV DISPLAY=:99
RUN nohup bash -c "Xvfb :99 -screen 0 1280x720x16 &"

The nohup command may not be best practice though. But it worked 😅

UPDATE:

This seems to work to make pyperclip.copy("text") not raise an exception.

However, reading from the clipboad (pyperclip.paste()) after the copy returns an empty string.

And there's a warning seen in logs: Error: Can't open display: :99