Okay let's be real - deploying Supabase projects can get messy when dependencies conflict or environments drift. That's exactly why Dockerizing your setup saves headaches. I remember wrestling with Postgres version mismatches for two days before switching to containers. Never again.
Why Docker Makes Sense for Your Supabase Project
Supabase officially recommends Docker for local development. Why? Imagine this scenario: your teammate uses macOS while you're on Windows, and your CI runs Linux. Without Docker, database migrations might fail randomly because of subtle OS differences. Containers fix that by packaging everything consistently.
Here's what you gain by learning how to get your Supabase project on Docker:
- 🚫 No more "works on my machine" excuses
- ⏱️ Quick onboarding for new developers (single command setup)
- 🔄 Easy environment parity between local/staging/production
Common Pain Points Docker Solves
| Problem | Docker Solution |
|---|---|
| Postgres version conflicts | Isolated database containers |
| Node.js version mismatches | Per-project runtime environments |
| Struggling with Supabase CLI setup | Pre-configured CLI in container |
| Port conflicts (5432 already in use? 😤) | Customizable port mapping |
Last month I helped a startup migrate to Docker. Their lead dev told me they recovered 15+ hours/month previously lost to environment troubleshooting. That's real ROI.
Prerequisites Checklist
Before we dive into how to get your Supabase project on Docker, gather these:
- Docker Desktop installed (version 20.10+ recommended)
- Supabase project initialized locally (
supabase initrun at least once) - Docker Compose (comes bundled with Docker Desktop)
- Terminal/CLI access (I'll use VS Code's terminal in examples)
supabase init, Docker won't find necessary config files. I made this mistake when rushing through a demo.
Step-by-Step: Dockerizing Your Supabase Setup
Let's get hands-on. Here's my battle-tested process for running Supabase in containers:
1. Creating the Dockerfile
In your project root, create Dockerfile:
# Use official Supabase image FROM supabase/postgres:15.1.0.73 # Copy init scripts COPY supabase /docker-entrypoint-initdb.d
This leverages Supabase's optimized PostgreSQL image. The COPY command imports your schema and seed data.
2. Setting Up docker-compose.yml
Now create docker-compose.yml:
version: '3.8'
services:
supabase-db:
build: .
ports:
- "54322:5432" # Avoid host port conflicts
environment:
POSTGRES_PASSWORD: your_secure_password_here
volumes:
- supabase_data:/var/lib/postgresql/data
volumes:
supabase_data:
Notice we mapped port 54322 → 5432? This prevents clashes if you have other Postgres instances. Learned this the hard way when my local pgAdmin couldn't connect.
your_secure_password_here to a strong password immediately. I once committed a placeholder password to GitHub. Don't be like me.
3. Launching Your Stack
Fire up containers with:
docker-compose up -d --build
Watch the logs:
docker-compose logs -f
You should see:
supabase-db | PostgreSQL init process complete supabase-db | Ready for connections
4. Connecting Your Application
Update your .env file with the Docker database URL:
DATABASE_URL=postgres://postgres:your_secure_password_here@localhost:54322/postgres
Test the connection with:
psql postgres://postgres:your_secure_password_here@localhost:54322/postgres
Configuration Reference Tables
These tables help troubleshoot common setup issues:
Port Mapping Scenarios
| Host Port | Container Port | Use Case |
|---|---|---|
| 54322 | 5432 | Avoid conflicts (default) |
| 5432 | 5432 | If no local Postgres exists |
| 6543 | 5432 | When running multiple projects |
Environment Variables You Should Know
| Variable | Required | Example Value |
|---|---|---|
| POSTGRES_PASSWORD | Yes | MyStr0ngP@ss! |
| POSTGRES_DB | No | myapp_prod |
| JWT_SECRET | For auth | super_secret_jwt_key |
Debugging Docker-Supabase Issues
Ran into problems? Here's my troubleshooting checklist:
- Containers won't start?
Rundocker system prune -a --volumesto reset Docker. Fixed my storage driver errors last week. - Schema not initializing?
Check file permissions insupabase/migrations. Docker runs as root by default. - Connection refused?
Verify ports withdocker ps. That colon syntax trips everyone up.
Remember when I mentioned port conflicts? Here's a real error I encountered:
Error: connect ECONNREFUSED 127.0.0.1:5432
Solution: Changed ports to "54323:5432" in compose file. Simple fix, but frustrating when you're tired.
Advanced Docker-Supabase Workflows
Once you've nailed the basics, try these power moves:
Persisting Storage Correctly
Always use named volumes like in our compose file. Avoid bind mounts for database files - they cause permission nightmares.
To backup your Dockerized Supabase DB:
docker exec -t your_container_name pg_dumpall -U postgres > backup.sql
Integrating with Supabase CLI
Access the CLI inside containers:
docker exec -it supabase-db supabase --version
But honestly? I prefer running CLI commands on the host machine. Less context switching.
Production Considerations
For deployment, add these to your compose file:
healthcheck: test: ["CMD-SHELL", "pg_isready -U postgres"] interval: 10s timeout: 5s retries: 5 restart: unless-stopped
FAQ: Docker + Supabase Questions
Can I migrate my existing Supabase project to Docker?
Absolutely. Just copy your supabase directory into the Docker setup. Your migrations and seed data will auto-apply.
Why use Docker instead of Supabase's local dev?
Control. With Docker, you customize Postgres configs, extensions, and resource limits. The CLI approach abstracts too much when you need granularity.
How much RAM does this require?
A minimal setup needs 2GB RAM. For larger projects, allocate 4GB+ in Docker Desktop settings (Resources → Memory).
Can I run multiple Supabase projects?
Yes! Give each compose project a unique name:
docker-compose -p project1 up -d
docker-compose -p project2 up -d
What about storage space?
Postgres containers grow quickly. Monitor with:
docker system df -v
My dev database currently eats 8.3GB - time to clean old migrations!
Closing Thoughts
Learning how to get your Supabase project on Docker feels daunting initially. I spent a weekend debugging volume permissions before it clicked. But once you nail it? Pure magic.
The initial effort pays off when:
- New hires run
docker-compose upand instantly have working environments - You switch laptops without reinstalling database versions
- Staging environments perfectly mirror production
Got stuck? Hit me up on Twitter - I check DMs daily. Now go Dockerize that Supabase project!
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