Docker Quickstart

This guide is designed for individuals who have a basic understanding of Docker and Docker Compose.

Live Demo Version

For those looking to explore without installing, a live demo version of the assurance platform is available at https://assuranceplatform.azurewebsites.net/ . Please be aware that data in the demo environment is periodically cleared.

This Docker-based installation offers a straightforward and efficient way to get the TEA Platform running on your local machine, providing a sandbox for development, testing, or demonstration purposes.

Local Install

If you wish to install the TEA platform locally on your computer without using Docker, please see our local development guide.

Prerequisites

Before beginning, ensure you have Docker and Docker Compose installed on your system. These tools are essential for creating, deploying, and managing containers. For installation instructions, visit the official Docker documentation .

Step-by-step Guide

1. Clone the Repository

Start by cloning the Assurance Platform repository from GitHub to your local machine:


git clone https://github.com/alan-turing-institute/AssurancePlatform.git
cd AssurancePlatform

2. Configure Environment Variables

Copy the example environment file:


cp .env.example .env

Then generate a secret for NextAuth.js and add it to your .env file:


# Generate and set NEXTAUTH_SECRET (required)
echo "NEXTAUTH_SECRET=$(openssl rand -base64 32)" >> .env

The default database credentials in .env.example match the Docker Compose configuration and should work out of the box. You may optionally configure:

GitHub OAuth credentials for social login
SEED_USER_PASSWORD for test user accounts (chris, alice, bob, charlie)

Test Users

To log in with the seeded test users, set SEED_USER_PASSWORD in your .env file. All test users share this password. See the code style guide for the full list of test user roles.

3. Deploy with Docker Compose

Start the development environment:


docker-compose -f docker-compose.local.yml up -d --build

This command builds the Docker images and starts the containers. The process may take a few minutes the first time as it downloads dependencies and initialises the database.

4. Access the Platform

Once the containers are running, the TEA Platform is accessible via your web browser at: http://localhost:3000

You should now see the TEA Platform’s homepage, ready for exploration and use.

Common Commands

View Logs


docker-compose -f docker-compose.local.yml logs -f

Run Database Migrations


docker exec tea_app_dev npx prisma migrate dev

Run Tests


docker exec tea_app_dev pnpm run test

Restart Services


docker-compose -f docker-compose.local.yml restart

Shutting Down

When you’re done using the platform and wish to stop the Docker containers:


docker-compose -f docker-compose.local.yml down

This command stops and removes the containers, effectively shutting down the platform until you choose to run it again.

Full Reset (Including Database)

To completely reset the environment including all data:


docker-compose -f docker-compose.local.yml down -v
docker-compose -f docker-compose.local.yml up -d --build

The -v flag removes the database volume, giving you a fresh start.