Docker for Laravel + Nginx + MySQL

Run Laravel project in docker (v26.1.3) with mysql:latest (v8.4) and nginx:alpine (v1.25.5). You can use the script laravel.sh to build and run docker automatically or follow the steps manually.

1. Script laravel.sh.

$ ./laravel.sh

Usage: ./laravel.sh [OPTION]
    -h:  Print this help
    -n:  Project name. New or existing

Example: ./laravel.sh -h
         ./laravel.sh -n example

The script does the following

• 1. Run Docker Composer image.

  • Create new project.
  • Update dependencies for existing project.

• 2. Configure enviroment for MySQL.

  • Add enviroment variables for MySQL in the new project.
  • If the project exists, examine the .env file for DB_CONNECTION=mysql. If it exists then modify DB_HOST and DB_PORT. Otherwise, add the contents of the .env file.

• 3. Copy Docker files.

  • docker/mysql: Contains the init script to create database and user, and the database folder for persistence of MySQL data
  • nginx: Contains the basic configuration of the application for Nginx.
  • Dockerfile: Dockerfile file for creating the docker image of the Laravel application.

• 3. Run docker-compose.yml.

  • Download mysql:latest Docker image and name container as laravel-mysql
  • Download nginx:alpine Docker image and name container as nginx-mysql
  • Build Laravel app Docker image and name container laravel-app

• 4. Artisan CLI.

  • If the project is new, run php artisan migrate
  • If the project exists, run php artisan:key and php artisan migrate

• 5. Print the auto generated MySQL root password.

• 6. Clean Docker build files.

Application in browser

• localhost:8000

2. Manual steps.

Assume the project name as example.

• 1. Create new project with Docker Composer.

    $ docker run --rm --interactive --tty --volume "$PWD:/app" --user $(id -u):$(id -g) composer create-project laravel/laravel example
  

  • For existing project, go to step 2.

• 2. Modify .env file.

    $ cat .env >> example/.env
  

  • Or copy the following to the example/.env file. Feel free to change DB_DATABASE, DB_USERNAME and DB_PASSWORD.

    DB_CONNECTION=mysql
    DB_HOST=laravel-mysql
    DB_PORT=3306
    DB_DATABASE=laravel
    DB_USERNAME=lavarel
    DB_PASSWORD=lavarel
    

• 3. Copy the docker folder inside the project.

    $ cp -r docker-compose.yml docker example/
  

  • Feel free to change docker/mysql/init.sql content.
  • Feel free to change php:8.2-fpm in Dockerfile to another version of PHP Docker for an existing project..

• 4. Run docker-compose.yml.

    $ docker compose -f example/docker-compose.yml up -d
  

• 5. Run PHP Composer for existing project.

    $ docker compose -f example/docker-compose.yml exec app rm -rf vendor composer.lock
    $ docker compose -f example/docker-compose.yml exec app composer install
  

• 6. Run artisan CLI for migrate.

    $ docker compose -f example/docker-compose.yml exec app php artisan migrate
  

• 7. Run artisan CLI to generate a new project key if needed.

    $ docker compose -f example/docker-compose.yml exec app php artisan key:generate
  

• 8. Print auto generated MySQL root password.

    $ docker logs laravel-mysql 2>&1 | grep 'GENERATED ROOT PASSWORD'
  

• 9. Clean Docker build files.

    $ docker buildx prune -f
  

• 10. Application in browser.

  • localhost:8000