Common Questions on Using Laravel with Docker

1. Why should I use Docker Compose for Laravel?

Docker Compose is a powerful tool for managing multi-container environments, particularly in development due to its simplicity. With Docker Compose, you can define and connect all necessary services for Laravel, such as PHP, Nginx, and databases, in a single configuration (compose.*.yaml). This setup ensures consistency across development, testing, and production environments, streamlining onboarding and reducing discrepancies between local and server setups.

While Docker Compose is a great choice for development, tools like Docker Swarm or Kubernetes offer advanced scaling and orchestration features, which may be beneficial for complex production deployments.

2. How do I debug my Laravel application with Docker Compose?

To debug your Laravel application in a Docker environment, use Xdebug. In the development setup, Xdebug is installed in the php-fpm container to enable debugging. Ensure Xdebug is enabled in your compose.dev.yaml file by setting the environment variable XDEBUG_ENABLED=true and configuring your IDE (e.g., Visual Studio Code or PHPStorm) to connect to the remote container for debugging.

3. Can I use Docker Compose with databases other than PostgreSQL?

Yes, Docker Compose supports various database services for Laravel. While PostgreSQL is used in the examples, you can easily substitute MySQL, MariaDB, or even SQLite. Update the compose.*.yaml file to specify the required Docker image and adjust your .env file to reflect the new database configuration.

4. How can I persist data in development and production?

In both development and production, Docker volumes are used to persist data. For instance, in the compose.*.yaml file, the postgres-data-* volume stores PostgreSQL data, ensuring that data is retained even if the container restarts. You can also define named volumes for other services where data persistence is essential.

5. What is the difference between development and production Docker configurations?

In a development environment, Docker configurations include tools that streamline coding and debugging, such as Xdebug for debugging, and volume mounts to enable real-time code updates without requiring image rebuilds.

In production, the configuration is optimized for performance, security, and efficiency. This setup uses multi-stage builds to keep the image lightweight and includes only essential tools, packages, and libraries.

It’s recommended to use alpine-based images in production for smaller image sizes, enhancing deployment speed and security.

Additionally, consider using Docker Scout to detect and analyze vulnerabilities, especially in production environments.

For additional information about using Docker Compose in production, see this guide.