Hello friends! Here we want to take a close look at how to configure Docker for Laravel applications using php:8.2-apache. Many of you who work with this framework might need some guidance for installation and proper configuration. Let's head there.
The first thing to keep in mind is that Docker is a powerful tool for creating consistent and portable environments. This tool is particularly very useful for Laravel projects because it requires different versions of PHP and specific extensions. By using Docker, you can easily manage these needs.
We will use the official php:8.2-apache image that already comes with Apache and does not require separate installation. This image is regularly updated and can be easily modified with version changes in the Docker file, keeping your projects up to date.
To get started, we will create a Dockerfile where we will add the necessary PHP image configurations and the required extensions for Laravel. Also, we will use good practices like Composer for package management.
Moreover, using the docker-compose.yml file, we can simultaneously run multiple containers for our database, web server, and other necessary tools. This allows us to develop in an environment similar to production, at least as much as possible on our local system.
Example Docker Configuration for Laravel
FROM php:8.2-apache
COPY . /var/www/html
RUN docker-php-ext-install pdo pdo_mysql
RUN apt-get update \&& apt-get install -y libpng-dev libjpeg-dev \&& docker-php-ext-configure gd --with-jpeg=/usr/include/ \&& docker-php-ext-install gd
COPY --from=composer /usr/bin/composer /usr/bin/composer
RUN chown -R www-data:www-data /var/www/html
WORKDIR /var/www/html
Description Line by Line of the Code
FROM php:8.2-apacheThis line indicates which image to use for building the PHP and Apache container.
COPY . /var/www/htmlThis command copies the Laravel project files into the container's internal directory.
RUN docker-php-ext-install pdo pdo_mysqlThis installs the necessary extensions for Laravel (PDO and PDO_MySQL).
RUN apt-get update && apt-get install -y libpng-dev libjpeg-dev && docker-php-ext-configure gd --with-jpeg=/usr/include/ && docker-php-ext-install gdThis installs all the required libraries for creating and installing the GD extension, necessary for image processing.
COPY --from=composer /usr/bin/composer /usr/bin/composerInstalls Composer, which is a tool for managing PHP packages.
RUN chown -R www-data:www-data /var/www/htmlEnsures that the Apache server has the necessary file access by changing the ownership of the Laravel project's directory.
WORKDIR /var/www/htmlThis sets the working directory for Laravel commands that are run inside the container.