Introduction

This is a guide to set up a new WordPress installation running in Docker, with WP-CLI available for database management. The only prerequisite is Docker.

Clone Repository

git clone git@github.com:hamishau/vagrant.wordpress.git

Project Name

Search for all instances of yourapp in docker-compose.yml and replace with your preferred project name. You may also want to update the site title, admin email, and admin password in the setup service command.

Deploy

docker compose up -d

WordPress is automatically installed during the first deploy. Once the containers are running, the site is available at http://localhost:8080. Log in at http://localhost:8080/wp-admin with the credentials configured in the setup service (default: admin / admin).

Containers are set to restart: "no" and will not start automatically on boot or Docker daemon restart. Use the commands below to manage them manually.

Start / Stop

Start containers

docker compose start

Stop containers

docker compose stop

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Post Installation

These are not required as part of the deployment — just helpful commands for ongoing development.

Export Database

docker compose run --rm --profile cli cli wp db export - --allow-root > yourapp.sql

Import Database

docker compose run --rm --profile cli cli wp db import - --allow-root < yourapp.sql

Reset Database

docker compose run --rm --profile cli cli wp db reset --yes --allow-root

Run Any WP-CLI Command

docker compose run --rm --profile cli cli wp <command> --allow-root

Update WP-CLI

docker compose run --rm --profile cli cli wp cli update --allow-root

Destroy Everything (including database)

docker compose down -v