C++ exe not running inside Docker container

Question

C++ exe not running inside Docker container

Shobhit Gupta 0

I have a C++ project written in C++ 98 on Windows platform. I'm trying to run its executables inside docker container but the exe is not running. Its not showing any error as well. I have checked the exe with Dependency Walker and all the dependent DLLs are available in the container.

User's image

Below is the Dockerfile

# escape=`

# Using servercore:ltsc2019 image from Microsoft
ARG FROM_IMAGE=mcr.microsoft.com/windows/servercore:ltsc2019
FROM ${FROM_IMAGE}

# Expose OHLC server port
EXPOSE 1011/tcp

# Copy artifacts from drop folder to docker container
COPY drop\* C:\GC1\

# Run GC1
WORKDIR C:\\GC1\\
#CMD ["C:\\GC1\\GatewayClient.exe"]

Below are project details:

Configuration: Release
Platform: Win32
Platform Toolset: Visual Studio 2015 (v140)
Target Platform Version: 8.1

Can someone please help me in understanding the issue. Please let me know if I'm missing anything.

Minxin Yu 13,506 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff

2023-10-17T08:59:27.7133333+00:00

Are there C++ v140 build tools in your docker? How about building the project with flag /MT?
Shobhit Gupta 0 Reputation points

2023-10-17T09:04:11.6366667+00:00

@Minxin Yu I'm not installing any build tools while building docker image. How to check if build tools are there in container?
Minxin Yu 13,506 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff

2023-10-17T09:07:00.0666667+00:00

There should be no toolset by default if you have not installed it.
Shobhit Gupta 0 Reputation points

2023-10-17T09:31:03.2133333+00:00

@Minxin Yu could you please share steps to install it.
RLWA32 51,536 Reputation points

2023-10-17T11:52:07.01+00:00

In my copy of VS2015 Community the redistributable 32-bit release version DLLs are located in the folders shown here -

If you deploy them in your docker container your application should be able to start.
Shobhit Gupta 0 Reputation points

2023-10-17T13:10:23.85+00:00

@RLWA32 I have search inside container, all DLLs of redistributable package are available.

I have one more C++ application which is running fine in container but I'm having issue with another app. Both apps are having same configuration. Dockerfile is also same. I'm just unable to figure out what is the issue with other app.

Executing the exe is not even giving any error which is making it even harder for me to diagnose the issue.
RLWA32 51,536 Reputation points

2023-10-17T13:26:20.3833333+00:00

Is it possible that some non-Microsoft DLLs have their own dependencies that are not available at load-time?

And are all available DLLs built as 32-bit since it appears that the .exe is a 32-bit build.
Viorel 125.8K Reputation points

2023-10-17T13:43:11.6133333+00:00

If your program does not give any error, maybe it is possible to recompile it, adding some messages or logs for tracing. Perhaps the application runs, but exists unexpectedly.
Shobhit Gupta 0 Reputation points

2023-10-17T16:19:40.9233333+00:00

@Viorel I have added some logs in the beginning of main function but that log is not getting printed. The exe is not coming up itself.
Minxin Yu 13,506 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff

2023-10-18T09:54:13.82+00:00

Does the program run well locally or in another machine? Try testing used functions from DLLs individually and setting /MT in Visual Studio, then running it in docker to prevent missing DLLs problem.
Shobhit Gupta 0 Reputation points

2023-10-18T11:22:15.8533333+00:00

@Minxin Yu Yes, the program is running in my local machine as well as on a windows VM. I have set /MT in Visual Studio for each DLL project but still I'm unable to run the exe in docker container.
Minxin Yu 13,506 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff

2023-10-19T06:29:52.4533333+00:00

Try using dumpbin to check the dependencies of the DLLs in the folder. If the DLLs' dependencies required by the DLLs in your picture are all there, try building your project in docker.
RLWA32 51,536 Reputation points

2023-10-19T07:51:09.65+00:00

Does you application start and run successfully in a VM that does not have Visual Studio or any other developer software installed?
Shobhit Gupta 0 Reputation points

2023-10-19T08:26:18.19+00:00

@RLWA32 yes its running on a VM that doesn't have Visual Studio or any other software.
RLWA32 51,536 Reputation points

2023-10-19T08:30:57.26+00:00

Could you post the output from "Dumpbin.exe /dependents <yourapp.exe>"
Shobhit Gupta 0 Reputation points

2023-10-19T09:09:00.2566667+00:00

@RLWA32 below is the output from Dumpbin
RLWA32 51,536 Reputation points

2023-10-19T10:03:52.79+00:00

Does a minimal "Hello world" application that is built with the same compiler and linker options as gatewayclient run inside docker?
Shobhit Gupta 0 Reputation points

2023-10-19T10:22:47.24+00:00

@RLWA32 yes, a simple "Hello world" application built with same compiler is running inside docker.
RLWA32 51,536 Reputation points

2023-10-19T10:36:28.9566667+00:00

@Shobhit Gupta, Have you tried a 64-bit version of your application inside docker?

Your answer

Minxin Yu 13,506 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff

2023-10-17T08:59:27.7133333+00:00

Are there C++ v140 build tools in your docker? How about building the project with flag /MT?
Shobhit Gupta 0 Reputation points

2023-10-17T09:04:11.6366667+00:00

@Minxin Yu I'm not installing any build tools while building docker image. How to check if build tools are there in container?
Minxin Yu 13,506 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff

2023-10-17T09:07:00.0666667+00:00

There should be no toolset by default if you have not installed it.
Shobhit Gupta 0 Reputation points

2023-10-17T09:31:03.2133333+00:00

@Minxin Yu could you please share steps to install it.
RLWA32 51,536 Reputation points

2023-10-17T11:52:07.01+00:00

In my copy of VS2015 Community the redistributable 32-bit release version DLLs are located in the folders shown here -

If you deploy them in your docker container your application should be able to start.
Shobhit Gupta 0 Reputation points

2023-10-17T13:10:23.85+00:00

@RLWA32 I have search inside container, all DLLs of redistributable package are available.

I have one more C++ application which is running fine in container but I'm having issue with another app. Both apps are having same configuration. Dockerfile is also same. I'm just unable to figure out what is the issue with other app.

Executing the exe is not even giving any error which is making it even harder for me to diagnose the issue.
RLWA32 51,536 Reputation points

2023-10-17T13:26:20.3833333+00:00

Is it possible that some non-Microsoft DLLs have their own dependencies that are not available at load-time?

And are all available DLLs built as 32-bit since it appears that the .exe is a 32-bit build.
Viorel 125.8K Reputation points

2023-10-17T13:43:11.6133333+00:00

If your program does not give any error, maybe it is possible to recompile it, adding some messages or logs for tracing. Perhaps the application runs, but exists unexpectedly.
Shobhit Gupta 0 Reputation points

2023-10-17T16:19:40.9233333+00:00

@Viorel I have added some logs in the beginning of main function but that log is not getting printed. The exe is not coming up itself.
Minxin Yu 13,506 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff

2023-10-18T09:54:13.82+00:00

Does the program run well locally or in another machine? Try testing used functions from DLLs individually and setting /MT in Visual Studio, then running it in docker to prevent missing DLLs problem.
Shobhit Gupta 0 Reputation points

2023-10-18T11:22:15.8533333+00:00

@Minxin Yu Yes, the program is running in my local machine as well as on a windows VM. I have set /MT in Visual Studio for each DLL project but still I'm unable to run the exe in docker container.
Minxin Yu 13,506 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff

2023-10-19T06:29:52.4533333+00:00

Try using dumpbin to check the dependencies of the DLLs in the folder. If the DLLs' dependencies required by the DLLs in your picture are all there, try building your project in docker.
RLWA32 51,536 Reputation points

2023-10-19T07:51:09.65+00:00

Does you application start and run successfully in a VM that does not have Visual Studio or any other developer software installed?
Shobhit Gupta 0 Reputation points

2023-10-19T08:26:18.19+00:00

@RLWA32 yes its running on a VM that doesn't have Visual Studio or any other software.
RLWA32 51,536 Reputation points

2023-10-19T08:30:57.26+00:00

Could you post the output from "Dumpbin.exe /dependents <yourapp.exe>"
Shobhit Gupta 0 Reputation points

2023-10-19T09:09:00.2566667+00:00

@RLWA32 below is the output from Dumpbin
RLWA32 51,536 Reputation points

2023-10-19T10:03:52.79+00:00

Does a minimal "Hello world" application that is built with the same compiler and linker options as gatewayclient run inside docker?
Shobhit Gupta 0 Reputation points

2023-10-19T10:22:47.24+00:00

@RLWA32 yes, a simple "Hello world" application built with same compiler is running inside docker.
RLWA32 51,536 Reputation points

2023-10-19T10:36:28.9566667+00:00

@Shobhit Gupta, Have you tried a 64-bit version of your application inside docker?

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C++ exe not running inside Docker container

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