TYPO3 Docker: Install and Configure TYPO3 with Docker

With Docker, you can skip the hours of manual setup, avoid the"it works on my machine" problems, and launch TYPO3 in minutes. Sounds good? It gets better. There are now two helpful ways to do it: one is lightning-fast and beginner-friendly (DDEV), and the other gives you full control under the hood (WebDevOps Docker setup).

Let's Dockerize TYPO3 the easy (and smart) way!

TYPO3 is a powerful and robust content management system (CMS) built for professional and enterprise-level websites. It's widely recognized for its flexibility, scalability, and strong multilingual capabilities, making it a preferred choice for organizations such as universities, governments, and agencies, especially across Europe.

TYPO3 is open-source, runs on PHP, and has been around for over 20 years. It allows developers to customize almost every part of the system. It's known for being:

• Super flexible (you can build just about anything with it)
• Great for big, multi-language websites
• Supported by a strong community and regular long-term support (LTS) versions

In short, TYPO3 is a great choice when you need a CMS that can handle more than just a simple blog.

Curious? Check it out at our full TYPO3 blog!

Setting up TYPO3 can be time-consuming, especially when handling multiple tools, dependencies, and configurations. Docker ease this process by packaging everything TYPO3 needs, like the PHP environment, web server, and database, into portable containers that run consistently across machines.

Benefits of using TYPO3 in Docker:

• Consistent Environments: TYPO3 Docker ensures your setup runs the same on every machine, eliminating problems.
• Quick Setup: Launch a fully functional TYPO3 environment in minutes without manual configuration.
• Easy Collaboration: Share your Docker setup with team members, making onboarding and collaboration seamless.
• Simplified Deployment: Deploy your TYPO3 site to different environments (development, staging, production) with minimal effort.
• Integration with CI/CD: Incorporate Docker into your continuous integration and deployment pipelines for automated testing and deployment.

To run TYPO3 Docker, you mainly need the following components:

1. Docker & Docker Compose

• Docker: Install Docker to run containers.
• Docker Compose: Install Docker Compose to manage multi-container setups (like a web server and database).

2. DDEV (For Local Development)

DDEV is an open-source tool that simplifies the process of setting up local development environments using Docker. It supports TYPO3 and other CMS platforms, providing a streamlined workflow for developers.

• Installation Guide: DDEV Installation

3. PHP Version

• PHP: TYPO3 requires PHP 7.4 or above. Ensure your TYPO3 Docker image includes the correct PHP version (commonly PHP 7.4 or 8.x).

4. Web server (Apache or Nginx)

• Apache or Nginx: A web server to serve the TYPO3 application. You can use a pre-configured TYPO3 Docker image with Apache and PHP or configure Nginx with PHP-FPM.

5. Database (MariaDB or MySQL)

• MariaDB or MySQL: TYPO3 typically uses MariaDB or MySQL for the database. You can use the official TYPO3 Docker image for MariaDB or MySQL.

6. Docker Compose File

• Define your services (web server, database) in a docker-compose.yml file. 
  Here's a simplified example:

Here are two proven ways to run TYPO3 using Docker. Whether you're just getting started or need a more advanced, flexible setup.

1 Method: TYPO3 Local Development with DDEV (Recommended)

Step-by-Step:

1. Create a new TYPO3 project folder

mkdir my-typo3-site && cd my-typo3-site

2. Initialize DDEV

ddev config --project-type=typo3 --docroot=public --create-docroot

3. Start the containers

ddev start

4. Install TYPO3 via Composer

ddev composer create "typo3/cms-base-distribution:^13"

5. Run the setup wizard

• CLI method:

  ddev typo3cms install:setup

• OR: Web method

  ddev exec touch public/FIRST_INSTALL
  ddev launch

6. Access TYPO3 backend

ddev launch typo3

Pros:

• Super easy
• Great for beginners
• Officially recommended by TYPO3
• Automatically handles PHP, MySQL, Apache, Mailhog

2 Method: Advanced Setup Using WebDevOps TYPO3 Docker Images

Step-by-Step:

1. Clone the boilerplate repo

git clone 
https:// github .com/ webdevops/ TYPO3-docker-boilerplate. git my-typo3-project
cd my-typo3-project

2. Choose and copy the dev environment file

cp docker-compose.development.yml docker-compose.yml

3. Start the stack

docker-compose up -d

4. Install TYPO3 manually inside a container or use the web installer

• Point browser to localhost or whatever port/domain you set
• Complete the installation steps
• Set up database (can use adminer.php or phpMyAdmin container)
• https:// your-url. ddev .site: 8037 (For phpMyAdmin Database)

Pros:

• Great for production or team setups
• Fully customizable Dockerfiles
• Based on standard webdevops/php-apache-dev images

1. Martin Helmich's TYPO3 Docker Image

• Repository: martinhelmich/typo3
• GitHub:  martin-helmich/docker-typo3
• Available Tags: Supports TYPO3 versions 6.2 through 12.4, including LTS releases like 9.5, 10.4, 11.5, and 12.4.
• Base Image: Built on php:7.4-apache with necessary PHP extensions.
• Use Case: Ideal for quick local development setups.
• Note: Not recommended for production environments.

2. Crinis TYPO3 Docker Images

• Repository:  crinis/typo3-docker
• Available Tags: Supports recent TYPO3 LTS versions.
• Project Structure: Assumes a Composer-based project structure, typically created using composer create-project typo3/cms-base-distribution.
• Use Case: Suitable for both development and production environments with customizable configurations.

3. WebDevOps TYPO3 Docker Boilerplate

• Repository:  webdevops/TYPO3-docker-boilerplate
• Features: Provides a comprehensive Docker setup including services like Apache, PHP-FPM, MySQL, Solr, Elasticsearch, Redis, and more.
• Use Case: Great for complex development environments and scalable production deployments.

4. fnagel/docker-typo3

• Repository:  fnagel/docker-typo3
• Features: A simple and minimal TYPO3 Docker setup based on PHP and Apache.
• Use Case: Ideal for developers seeking a straightforward and clean Docker environment for TYPO3.

5. Raimund Rittnauer's TYPO3 Docker Setup

• Repository:  raaaimund/typo3-docker
• Features: Provides a Docker setup to run TYPO3 with NGINX, PHP-FPM, and MySQL, including optional SQL dump import.
• Use Case: Suitable for developers looking for a customized Docker environment for TYPO3.

6. Kronova TYPO3 Docker

• Repository:  kronova/typo3-docker
• Features: It offers a scalable Docker setup for TYPO3, supporting multiple LTS versions.
• Use Case: Designed for both development and production environments, with scalability in mind.

When running TYPO3 Docker, it's crucial to persist certain directories to retain your site's content, configurations, and user uploads across container restarts or rebuilds.

Key Directories to Persist

Ensure the following TYPO3 directories are mapped to persistent storage:

• fileadmin/: User-uploaded files and media
• typo3conf/: Configuration files and extensions
• typo3temp/: Temporary files and caches
• uploads/: Files uploaded through TYPO3's backend

Persisting these directories ensures that your site's content and configurations remain intact.

Docker Compose Volume Configuration

In your docker-compose.yml file, define volumes to map these directories to your host machine:

services:
  web:
    image: your-typo3-image
    volumes:
      - ./data/fileadmin:/var/www/html/public/fileadmin
      - ./data/typo3conf:/var/www/html/public/typo3conf
      - ./data/typo3temp:/var/www/html/public/typo3temp
      - ./data/uploads:/var/www/html/public/uploads

This setup ensures that changes made within the container are reflected on your host machine and vice versa.

• Use .env files for sensitive data and reuse across projects.

• Set TYPO3_CONTEXT to differentiate dev/staging/prod:

  environment: 
         - TYPO3_CONTEXT=Development

• Enable Xdebug with DDEV for debugging:

  ddev xdebug on

• TYPO3 uses OPcache heavily, ensure it's tuned in php.ini.
• Always version-lock Composer installs (^13.1, not dev-master).

For users who already have a TYPO3 project running locally or on a server

• Add a composer.json if missing (composer init)
• Copy public/ structure if using legacy TYPO3 setup

• Use DDEV's import-db and import-files:

  ddev import-db --src=backupup.sql.gz
  ddev import-files --src=uploads/

The TYPO3 Docker journey doesn't have to be daunting. With the simple steps outlined above, you're already on the path to creating a more easy and efficient development environment.

Remember, whether you're just getting started or trying to optimize your setup, there's always room for improvement. TYPO3 Docker gives you the flexibility to scale and adapt your project as your needs grow.

If you have any questions or need help, feel free to comment below - we'd love to assist you!