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Run Nette on Docker

What is Nette?​

Nette is a mature Czech PHP framework known for its Latte templating engine, the Tracy debugger, and configuration written in the NEON format rather than YAML or PHP arrays. It has a long track record and a stable, tightly designed core. A Nette app needs a web server, a PHP runtime, and, once the Nette Database layer or Doctrine is involved, a real database: commonly MySQL or PostgreSQL.

Why run Nette 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 an older Nette 2.x app, 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 Nette​

Nette has no official Docker tool 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 Nette today, and put a Laravel API, a Symfony service, 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 a legacy Nette 2.x app and a current Nette 3.x app 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.

For Nette 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 Nette on Docker with Laradock​

1. Add Laradock to your project​

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

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

2. Pick the services your app needs​

Most Nette 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 Nette at the containers​

In app/config/common.neon, use the service name as the database host:

database:
    dsn: 'mysql:host=mysql;dbname=default;charset=utf8mb4'
    user: default
    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). Point NGINX's document root at Nette's www/ folder, which is its equivalent of public/.

4. Run your app from the workspace​

Enter the shell where Composer and git live, and install dependencies:

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

Make sure the temp/ and log/ directories are writable by the web server user. Then open http://localhost. That is a full Nette 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

The current nette/web-project skeleton requires PHP 8.2 or newer, while older Nette 2.x apps run on PHP 7.1 and up. Laradock covers anything from PHP 5.6 to 8.5, so the same tool runs a legacy Nette app 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 Composer to run Nette 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 Nette app?​

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

Can I run multiple Nette 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 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.