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Run MyBB on Docker

What is MyBB?​

MyBB is a free, open-source forum software known for its plugin and theme ecosystem and its straightforward admin panel. It is a PHP application backed by a database (MySQL/MariaDB is the common choice; PostgreSQL and SQLite are also supported), served through a web server, and installed through a browser-based setup wizard.

Why run MyBB in Docker?​

Docker packages each of those pieces (NGINX, PHP-FPM, MySQL) 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 forum can run an older PHP version to keep a legacy MyBB install and its plugins working, while another project runs the latest PHP, 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 MyBB​

MyBB has no official Docker image or first-party runtime of its own, so a ready-made, no-lock-in environment matters even more. Here is why Laradock is the best fit:

  • You are never locked into one ecosystem. Laradock is framework-agnostic. Run your MyBB forum today, add a Laravel API, a WordPress marketing site, or a plain PHP script 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, so an older forum with legacy plugins and a fresh install each get exactly the runtime they need.
  • 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.

Concretely, for MyBB it gives you a production-style NGINX + PHP-FPM stack, MySQL/MariaDB already wired, and a workspace container with git and the file tools you need to unpack the MyBB package.

Run MyBB on Docker with Laradock​

1. Add Laradock to your project​

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

(No MyBB files yet? Clone Laradock first, then download and extract the MyBB package from the workspace container in the next steps.)

2. Pick the services your forum needs​

MyBB needs a web server and a database. The web server pulls in PHP-FPM automatically:

docker compose up -d nginx mysql workspace

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

Prefer to be asked? The optional CLI walks you through the choices: ./laradock setup, then ./laradock up. It prints every real command it runs.

3. Point MyBB at the containers​

MyBB's installer asks for these values in the browser and writes them into inc/config.php; use the service name as the database host:

Database Type: MySQLi
Database Server: mysql
Username: default
Password: secret
Database Name: default

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. Install and run your forum​

Enter the workspace container, place the MyBB files in your project's web root (download the package from mybb.com and extract it if you have not already), then finish the setup in the browser:

docker compose exec workspace bash

Then open http://localhost/install/ and follow MyBB's install wizard: it checks your PHP version and extensions (mbstring, GD and SimpleXML among them), asks for the database details from the step above, and creates the admin account. Delete the install/ directory once it is done, as MyBB's own docs require.

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=8.1
docker compose build php-fpm workspace

MyBB's official minimum is still PHP 5.2, which is long obsolete; current releases fixed compatibility with PHP 8, so run modern PHP for security and performance. Laradock covers anything from PHP 5.6 to 8.5, so the same tool runs an older MyBB install with legacy plugins and a brand-new one side by side, each isolated, none of it installed on your machine.

Frequently Asked Questions​

Do I need to install PHP or MySQL to run MyBB with Laradock?​

No. Everything lives inside the containers. PHP, its required extensions, and the database server are all provided; you never install them on your host.

Which services should I start for a typical MyBB forum?​

nginx mysql workspace covers most forums: web server, database, and a shell. Swap mysql for mariadb if you prefer.

Can I run multiple MyBB forums 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 a native install. 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.