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Run Leaf PHP on Docker

What is Leaf PHP?​

Leaf is a modern, lightweight PHP framework built for simplicity and speed, in the same spirit as Slim or Express.js rather than a heavier full-stack framework. Its own CLI can scaffold a project, and the optional Leaf MVC skeleton adds routing, a query builder (Leaf DB) and a config-driven structure on top of the minimal core. A typical Leaf app needs a web server, a PHP runtime, and, once Leaf DB is involved, a real database: usually MySQL or PostgreSQL.

Why run Leaf PHP in Docker?​

Docker packages a web server, PHP-FPM and a database into isolated containers that run the same on every machine. Instead of installing PHP and MySQL onto your laptop, where versions collide between projects and "works on my machine" starts, you run disposable containers that mirror production and vanish cleanly when you delete them. One project can run PHP 8.4 while another runs 8.1, on the same computer, with nothing installed globally.

The catch: wiring those containers together yourself (base images, PHP extensions, networking, permissions) is a week of fiddly Docker work. That is exactly what Laradock removes.

Why Laradock is the best fit for Leaf PHP​

Leaf has its own CLI for scaffolding a new project, but it does not set up Docker or any database containers for you, so a ready-made, no-lock-in environment still matters. Here is why Laradock is the best fit:

  • You are never locked into one ecosystem. Laradock is framework-agnostic. Run Leaf today, and put a Laravel API or a WordPress site beside it tomorrow, all in the same environment with the same commands.
  • Far more flexibility. 100+ ready services and any PHP version from 5.6 to 8.5, versus setting up a database and web server by hand for every new Leaf project.
  • Nothing is hidden and you own everything. No generated files, no magic, no wrapper binary between you and Docker. Every Dockerfile and compose file is right there for you to read and edit.
  • Nothing new to learn. What you use is plain docker compose, knowledge that transfers straight to production. Our CLI is an optional nicety, never a requirement.

For Leaf PHP specifically, Laradock wires a production-style NGINX + PHP-FPM stack, MySQL/PostgreSQL already set up, and a workspace container with Composer and git installed.

Run Leaf PHP on Docker with Laradock​

1. Add Laradock to your project​

cd my-leaf-app
git clone https://github.com/laradock/laradock.git
cd laradock && cp .env.example .env

(No Leaf app yet? Clone Laradock first, then create one from the workspace container in the next steps.)

2. Pick the services your app needs​

Most Leaf MVC apps need a web server and a database (the web server pulls in PHP-FPM automatically):

docker compose up -d nginx mysql workspace

Prefer PostgreSQL? Swap the name: docker compose up -d nginx postgres workspace. The full catalog is here.

3. Point Leaf at the containers​

In your app's .env, use the service name as the database host:

DB_CONNECTION=mysql
DB_HOST=mysql
DB_PORT=3306
DB_DATABASE=default
DB_USERNAME=default
DB_PASSWORD=secret

The default database, user and password live in Laradock's mysql/defaults.env; override any of them by adding the line to Laradock's .env (it always wins).

4. Run your app from the workspace​

Enter the shell where Composer and git live, and run the usual commands:

docker compose exec workspace bash
composer create-project leafs/mvc .   # only if you have no app yet
composer install

Then open http://localhost. That is a full Leaf app running on Docker.

Change the PHP version anytime​

This is where a native install hurts and Laradock shines. Set the version in Laradock's .env and rebuild:

PHP_VERSION=8.2
docker compose build php-fpm workspace

Leaf currently supports PHP 7.4 and newer, with the project moving its minimum requirement to PHP 8.1. Laradock covers anything from PHP 5.6 to 8.5, so an older app and a brand-new one run side by side, each isolated, none of it installed on your machine.

Frequently Asked Questions​

Do I need to install PHP or Composer to run Leaf with Laradock?​

No. Everything lives inside the containers. Composer and git are in the workspace container; you never install PHP on your host.

Which services should I start for a typical Leaf app?​

nginx mysql workspace covers most apps. Swap mysql for postgres if you prefer.

Can I run multiple Leaf apps on different PHP versions?​

Yes. Give each its own Laradock with a unique COMPOSE_PROJECT_NAME and DATA_PATH_HOST, set a different PHP_VERSION in each, and they run independently on the same machine.

Does this work the same on macOS, Windows and Linux?​

Yes. Laradock runs anywhere Docker runs. On macOS/Windows, file-sync speed depends on Docker Desktop (VirtioFS helps a lot); it is a Docker Desktop trait, not specific to Laradock.

Is this the same Docker setup I would use in production?​

The containers are production-style (real NGINX + PHP-FPM), so it is far closer to production than the built-in PHP development server. See Prepare Laradock for Production for the hardening steps.

Comparing environments? See the full Laradock vs Others breakdown. Ready to start? Getting Started takes about five minutes.