Deploy CoreHead on Docker

Deploying CoreHead using Docker is the fastest way to get a production-ready environment. This guide will walk you through setting up the Go backend, Next.js frontend, and PostgreSQL database using a single orchestration file.

Prerequisites

Before you begin, ensure you have the following installed on your machine:

• Docker Desktop (v4.0 or later)
• Git (for cloning the repository)
• A code editor like VS Code

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Step 1: Clone the Repository

First, clone the official CoreHead Docker starter kit. This repository contains the pre-configured docker-compose.yml file.

git clone https://github.com/corehead/docker-starter.git
                    cd corehead-docker

Step 2: Configure Environment Variables

CoreHead requires a few environment variables to connect the Go backend to the PostgreSQL database. Create a copy of the example environment file:

cp .env.example .env

Open the .env file and update the following security keys:

• JWT_SECRET - Set this to a long random string.
• DB_PASSWORD - Set a secure database password.

Step 3: Run with Docker Compose

Once configured, you can spin up the entire stack with a single command. This will pull the images and start the services in detached mode.

docker-compose up -d

Note: The first time you run this, it may take a few minutes to download the base images for Go and Node.js.

Step 4: Verify Deployment

Once the containers are running, you can access your dashboard:

• Frontend: http://localhost:3000
• API Health Check: http://localhost:8080/health

Troubleshooting

If the containers fail to start, check the logs using:

docker-compose logs -f