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Run Simple Machines Forum (SMF) on Docker

What is Simple Machines Forum (SMF)?​

Simple Machines Forum (SMF) is a long-running, free open source forum package known for being lightweight, fast, and heavily themeable through a large library of community mods. It is a PHP application backed by a database (MySQL, PostgreSQL, or MariaDB are all supported), served through a web server, and installed through a browser-based setup wizard rather than a CLI installer.

Why run SMF 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 on an older PHP version to keep a legacy SMF 2.0 install and its mods 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 SMF​

SMF 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 SMF 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 mods 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 SMF it gives you a production-style NGINX + PHP-FPM stack, MySQL/PostgreSQL/MariaDB already wired, and a workspace container with git and the file tools you need to unpack the SMF archive.

Run SMF on Docker with Laradock​

1. Add Laradock to your project​

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

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

2. Pick the services your forum needs​

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

docker compose up -d nginx mysql workspace

Prefer PostgreSQL or MariaDB? Swap the name: docker compose up -d nginx postgres 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 SMF at the containers​

SMF's installer asks for these values in the browser; use the service name as the database host:

Database Type: MySQL
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 SMF files in your project's web root (download the archive from simplemachines.org and extract it if you have not already), then finish the setup in the browser:

docker compose exec workspace bash

Then open http://localhost and follow SMF's install wizard: it detects PHP and checks for the mbstring and fileinfo extensions, asks for the database details from the step above, and creates the admin account. Remove or lock down install.php once it is done, as SMF's own docs recommend.

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

SMF 2.1 needs PHP 7.1 or newer and runs fine on current PHP 8.x; Laradock covers anything from PHP 5.6 to 8.5, so the same tool runs an older SMF 2.0 forum with legacy mods and a brand-new SMF 2.1 install 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 SMF 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 SMF forum?​

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

Can I run multiple SMF 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.