A minimal Docker configuration for Laravel development. No bloat — just PHP 8.5, MySQL 8.3, and Node.js 22 on Alpine Linux.
Why Lara Anchor
Built for developers who value speed and simplicity over kitchen-sink starters.
Alpine Linux base images for minimal footprint. Boot in seconds, not minutes.
No Redis, no Nginx overhead. Just PHP 8.5, MySQL 8.3, and Node.js 22 with pnpm.
Need Redis or Nginx? Add them. Full control over your Docker stack with clean defaults.
Volume-mounted project files. Every code change is instantly reflected — no rebuilds.
Optional Node.js container via Docker profiles. Enable only when you need asset compilation.
Memory limits, database credentials, and ports — all adjustable from a single .env file.
Tech Stack
Latest stable versions of everything. Always up-to-date.
CLI Server
Database
Base Image
PHP Deps
pnpm
Quick Start
One command to install, a few more to have a full Laravel stack running locally.
The install script downloads and extracts the latest template.
Create your .env file with database credentials.
Spin up the entire stack.
Get Composer packages and run migrations.
Your app is now running locally.