diff --git a/.devcontainer.json b/.devcontainer.json
index 8bea96aea29c1..e84133383847e 100644
--- a/.devcontainer.json
+++ b/.devcontainer.json
@@ -4,13 +4,13 @@
 	"name": "pandas",
 	"context": ".",
 	"dockerFile": "Dockerfile",
-
+	"postCreateCommand": "bash container_create.sh",
 	// Use 'settings' to set *default* container specific settings.json values on container create.
 	// You can edit these settings after create using File > Preferences > Settings > Remote.
 	"settings": {
-		"terminal.integrated.shell.linux": "/bin/bash",
+		"terminal.integrated.defaultProfile.linux": "/bin/bash",
 		"python.condaPath": "/opt/conda/bin/conda",
-		"python.pythonPath": "/opt/conda/bin/python",
+		"python.pythonPath": "/workspaces/pandas/.venv/bin/python",
 		"python.formatting.provider": "black",
 		"python.linting.enabled": true,
 		"python.linting.flake8Enabled": true,
@@ -21,10 +21,12 @@
 			"pandas"
 		]
 	},
-
 	// Add the IDs of extensions you want installed when the container is created in the array below.
 	"extensions": [
 		"ms-python.python",
 		"ms-vscode.cpptools"
+	],
+	"runArgs": [
+		"--privileged"
 	]
-}
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index b682d93efbd04..f80a11449a19a 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -119,3 +119,6 @@ doc/build/html/index.html
 doc/tmp.sv
 env/
 doc/source/savefig/
+
+# container
+.venv
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/Dockerfile b/Dockerfile
index de1c564921de9..66bb233dea9ef 100644
--- a/Dockerfile
+++ b/Dockerfile
@@ -20,29 +20,4 @@ RUN apt-get update \
     && apt-get clean -y \
     && rm -rf /var/lib/apt/lists/*
 
-# Switch back to dialog for any ad-hoc use of apt-get
-ENV DEBIAN_FRONTEND=dialog
 
-# Clone pandas repo
-RUN mkdir "$pandas_home" \
-    && git clone "https://github.com/$gh_username/pandas.git" "$pandas_home" \
-    && cd "$pandas_home" \
-    && git remote add upstream "https://github.com/pandas-dev/pandas.git" \
-    && git pull upstream master
-
-# Because it is surprisingly difficult to activate a conda environment inside a DockerFile
-# (from personal experience and per https://github.com/ContinuumIO/docker-images/issues/89),
-# we just update the base/root one from the 'environment.yml' file instead of creating a new one.
-#
-# Set up environment
-RUN conda install -y mamba
-RUN mamba env update -n base -f "$pandas_home/environment.yml"
-
-# Build C extensions and pandas
-SHELL ["/bin/bash", "-c"]
-RUN . /opt/conda/etc/profile.d/conda.sh \
-    && conda activate base \
-    && cd "$pandas_home" \
-    && export \
-    && python setup.py build_ext -j 4 \
-    && python -m pip install -e .
diff --git a/container_create.sh b/container_create.sh
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000..559600ca95c36
--- /dev/null
+++ b/container_create.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+# Switch back to dialog for any ad-hoc use of apt-get
+export DEBIAN_FRONTEND=dialog
+
+# Set up environment
+conda install -y mamba
+mamba env update -p .venv -f "environment.yml"
+
+source activate /workspaces/pandas/.venv
+
+# build + install pandas
+python setup.py build_ext -j 4
+python -m pip install -e .
\ No newline at end of file