frappe_docker
Frappe Docker is the official Docker setup for running Frappe applications—including ERPNext, CRM, and Helpdesk—in containers. It provides pre-built images, Docker Compose configurations, and documentation for both development and production deployments, from quick demos to self-hosted enterprise setups.
Key facts
Objective fields from the source. Values we can't verify are shown as “Unknown” rather than guessed.
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Repository | frappe/frappe_docker |
| Owner | frappe |
| Primary language | Python |
| License | MIT — OSI-approved |
| Stars | 2.4k |
| Forks | 2.6k |
| Open issues | 8 |
| Latest release | v3.2.1 (2026-07-03) |
| Last updated | 2026-07-03 |
| Source | https://github.com/frappe/frappe_docker |
What frappe_docker is
Official container orchestration layer for Frappe framework applications, offering Dockerfiles, multi-service Compose files (base production setup in compose.yaml, disposable demo in pwd.yml), development environment configs, and helper scripts. Supports both development workflows (devcontainer integration) and production deployments with documented operational patterns.
Get the frappe_docker source
Clone the repository and explore it locally.
git clone https://github.com/frappe/frappe_docker.gitcd frappe_docker# follow the project's README for install & configurationNeed it deployed, integrated, or customized instead? DEV.co ships production installs.
Best use cases
Implementation considerations
- Baseline Docker and Docker Compose v2 proficiency required; refer to official Docker documentation for setup and best practices.
- Disposable demo (pwd.yml) is evaluation-only; production deployments require the documented base compose.yaml and production-specific overrides from docs/03-production/.
- Clone repository and review docs/01-getting-started/ and docs/02-setup/01-overview.md before initiating deployment.
- ARM64 deployments have documented considerations (docs/01-getting-started/03-arm64.md); validate support for your target infrastructure.
- Custom app installation and persistence workflows are documented; pwd.yml demo does not support custom apps.
When to avoid it — and what to weigh
- Managed SaaS preference — If your organization prioritizes zero infrastructure overhead and managed services, self-hosted container deployment adds operational complexity.
- Non-containerized legacy workflows — Teams deeply invested in non-containerized deployment models (bare-metal, traditional VMs) may face retraining overhead and migration friction.
- Minimal operational capability — Container operations, monitoring, log aggregation, and CI/CD integration require baseline DevOps competency; not suitable for teams without infrastructure expertise.
- Rapid feature iteration without infrastructure changes — If Frappe framework release cycles do not align with your operational cadence, managing container image rebuilds and upgrades can introduce friction.
License & commercial use
Repository licensed under MIT (MIT License), a permissive OSI-approved license permitting use, modification, and redistribution with minimal restrictions.
MIT license permits commercial use without explicit permission. However, this repository is containerization tooling only. Commercial use of Frappe framework and bundled applications (ERPNext, CRM, etc.) is subject to their respective licenses; review frappe/frappe, frappe/erpnext, and related repositories for their license terms before production deployment.
DEV.co evaluation signals
Editorial assessment — not user reviews. Directional, with an explicit confidence level.
| Signal | Assessment |
|---|---|
| Maintenance | Active |
| Documentation | Strong |
| License clarity | Clear |
| Deployment complexity | Moderate |
| DEV.co fit | Good |
| Assessment confidence | High |
Container security posture depends on operator practices: base images, secrets management (environment variables, volume mounts), network policies, and host configuration are the operator's responsibility. No security audit data, vulnerability disclosure policy, or built-in RBAC. Refer to Docker security best practices and Frappe framework security documentation. Regular image updates and dependency scanning are recommended.
Alternatives to consider
Frappe Cloud (managed SaaS)
Eliminates infrastructure and operational overhead; managed security, scaling, and updates. Trade-off: reduced control and vendor dependency.
Kubernetes (Helm/custom manifests)
For organizations already using Kubernetes; enables multi-cluster deployments and advanced orchestration. Requires Kubernetes expertise; this repository is Docker Compose–focused.
Bare-metal or VM-based Frappe deployment
Traditional approach using Frappe Bench directly. Lower container overhead but higher manual operational burden and reduced portability.
Build on frappe_docker with DEV.co software developers
Review the Getting Started Guide in docs/01-getting-started/ and validate your Docker and Compose setup. Start with the demo (pwd.yml) for evaluation, then plan production deployment using compose.yaml and production documentation.
Talk to DEV.coRelated on DEV.co
Explore the category and the services that help you build with it.
frappe_docker FAQ
Can I use pwd.yml for production?
What versions of Docker are required?
How do I deploy to Kubernetes?
Is this repository secure for production use?
Software developers & web developers for hire
Adopting frappe_docker is usually one piece of a larger software development effort. As a software development agency, DEV.co provides software development services and web development expertise — pairing senior software developers and web developers with your team to design, build, and operate open-source crm software in production.
Ready to containerize your Frappe deployment?
Review the Getting Started Guide in docs/01-getting-started/ and validate your Docker and Compose setup. Start with the demo (pwd.yml) for evaluation, then plan production deployment using compose.yaml and production documentation.