Easy Docker MySQL setup

Don't you hate it when you just want to start a tutorial, but you discover you need that pesky database to get going?

Well, worry no more, because I'll give you the easiest way to create a database from scratch and start working.

Make sure you have docker installed and then run this command in the terminal

docker run --name myNewMySqlDockerContainer -e MYSQL_ROOT_PASSWORD=mySecretRootPassword -e MYSQL_USER=myUserName -e MYSQL_PASSWORD=mySecretPassword -e MYSQL_DATABASE=myDbName -v D:/Projects/Database:/var/lib/mysql -p 3306:3306 -d mysql:latest 

If you want to know more about what just happened, read below.

The docker run command will do the following:

• create a docker container called myNewMySqlDockerContainer

• every time it sees -e it sets an environment variable in that image so:

  • it sets an environment variable called MYSQL_ROOT_PASSWORD with the value mySecretRootPassword
  • it sets an environment variable called MYSQL_USER with the value myUserName
  • it sets an environment variable called MYSQL_PASSWORD with the value mySecretPassword
  • it sets an environment variable called MYSQL_DATABASE with the value myDbName
    • (These environment variables are what your mysql will need in order to know the root password for the user called root, if the database has another user, and in our case it has, what is the password for that user and what is the actual database name. They are also the values you will use in your framework to connect to the database.)

• when it sees -v it will bind mount a volume. In translation, it will make sure that the data that should go in the mysql folder of the container (/var/lib/mysql - this is the default path of mysql in every mysql docker container), actually goes in the folder on your machine (in my case: D:/Projects/Database)

• when it sees -p it will bind the port on your machine to the port on the container so this way, you can connect from your machine to the mysql that is in the docker container

  • myMachinePort:containerPort

• when it sees -d it will run the container in the background and print the container ID

• when it sees mysql:latest it will know to download the latest version of mysql in the container

How to see your new database

• download MySQL Workbench and open it
• create a new connection (the little + sign next to connections)
• add the data you just created with docker (notice the port and user name) (for the password, click on 'Store in Keychain')

Note: you can use also the username: root with the password mySecretRootPassword that you created above

That's about it. I hope it helps some of you, for a quick and easy mysql database creation to enjoy your tutorials. For more docker flags, check out this .