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Created August 7, 2025 19:41
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packaging-supabase-with-classroomio.md

Packaging Supabase with Docker Compose

Created: 07/08/2025, 20:18:00 Last Updated: 07/08/2025, 20:28:56

User

If you look at the README of my project, we use supabase https://github.com/classroomio/classroomio/files/README.md for our database however when we want to package our software it's hard to package supabase because it has its own docker compose file and several steps to selfhosting.

Here is our docker compose file https://github.com/classroomio/classroomio/files/docker-compose.yaml

Can you recommend how to package supabase in our docker compose file?

Assistant (gemini-2.5-flash)

I see the issue! It's definitely tricky to self-host Supabase directly within your own docker-compose.yaml file because it's a suite of services, each with its own configurations and dependencies. The README.md file you linked isn't visible, so I can't see how you're currently referencing Supabase. However, I can still provide some strategies.

User

oh here is the right readme https://github.com/classroomio/classroomio/blob/main/README.md

and here is our docker compose file https://github.com/classroomio/classroomio/blob/main/docker-compose.yaml

Assistant (gemini-2.5-flash)

Thank you for providing the correct links! Now I can see your README.md and docker-compose.yaml.

Looking at your README.md, it states: "Database: Supabase (PostgreSQL with Realtime capabilities)"

This confirms you're using Supabase for its PostgreSQL database and potentially its Realtime features.

User

we actually use supabase for auth and storage as well

Assistant (gemini-2.5-flash)

Okay, that's a critical piece of information! Knowing that you use Supabase Auth and Storage in addition to the PostgreSQL database and Realtime capabilities significantly changes the landscape.

This means you are using the full Supabase platform, not just PostgreSQL. Trying to self-host the entire Supabase platform by "packaging" it directly into your existing docker-compose.yaml (the one for your application) is highly impractical and not the intended way to self-host Supabase for production.

Here's why and what your options are:

Why "Packaging" the Full Supabase into Your docker-compose.yaml is Not Viable:

The full Supabase platform consists of many interdependent services:

  1. PostgreSQL: The core database.
  2. PostgREST: Exposes your PostgreSQL database as a RESTful API.
  3. GoTrue (Auth): The authentication server.
  4. Storage: Handles file storage (often backed by S3-compatible object storage).
  5. Realtime: For real-time subscriptions.
  6. Edge Functions (Deno): For serverless functions.
  7. Logflare: For logging.
  8. Inbucket: For testing email authentication.
  9. Studio: The web-based dashboard.
  10. And more... (like migrations services, etc.)

Each of these has its own Docker image, configuration, and dependencies. Supabase provides its own sophisticated docker-compose.yaml (or Kubernetes manifests) to orchestrate all these services together. This docker-compose.yaml is not designed to be easily merged into another application's docker-compose.yaml.

Your Options for Self-Hosting Supabase (with Auth, Storage, Realtime)

Given your use case, here are the realistic approaches:

1. Continue with Managed Supabase (Strongest Recommendation)

This is the simplest and most robust solution, especially if you're concerned about packaging complexity.

  • Pros:
    • Zero infrastructure management for Supabase.
    • Supabase handles all updates, security, backups, scaling, high availability.
    • Focus entirely on your application development.
    • Includes all features (Auth, Storage, Realtime, Functions).
  • Cons:
    • Cost (as usage scales).
    • Vendor lock-in (though data export is possible).
    • Less control over the underlying infrastructure details.

How to do it: Your current setup already implies this. Your application's backend service would be configured with environment variables like SUPABASE_URL, SUPABASE_ANON_KEY, SUPABASE_SERVICE_ROLE_KEY, etc., pointing to your managed Supabase project.

2. Self-Host Supabase Separately using Their Official Tools (The Proper Self-Host Way)

This is the path if you absolutely must self-host the entire Supabase stack for production. You will run Supabase as a completely separate deployment, and your classroomio application will then connect to it.

  • How it works:
    • Supabase's Self-Hosting Repository: Supabase provides an official repository specifically for self-hosting: https://github.com/supabase/supabase/tree/master/docker. This folder contains their full docker-compose.yaml and associated configurations.
    • Separate Deployment: You would clone this repository to a separate location on your server/host machine (outside your classroomio project).
    • You would then cd into that directory and run docker-compose up -d (or follow their more detailed production deployment instructions, which often involve setting up reverse proxies, object storage, and potentially Kubernetes).
    • Networking: You'll need to ensure your classroomio containers can reach the self-hosted Supabase containers. If running on the same host, you can expose the necessary Supabase ports (e.g., 8000 for PostgREST/Auth, 5432 for Postgres) and configure your classroomio application's environment variables to point to localhost:PORT or the internal IP/DNS if using a shared Docker network or an orchestration tool.
  • Pros:
    • Full control over your Supabase stack.
    • No recurring costs for the managed service.
  • Cons:
    • Significant DevOps Overhead: You become responsible for all aspects:
      • Initial Setup: Complex configuration for each service (GoTrue, Storage, Realtime, etc.), including environment variables, secrets, and volume mounts.
      • Maintenance: Keeping all Supabase components updated, patching security vulnerabilities.
      • Scalability: Designing and implementing a scalable architecture for Supabase.
      • Backups & Recovery: Setting up your own backup and disaster recovery strategy.
      • Monitoring & Logging: Integrating monitoring and logging solutions.
      • Object Storage: You'll need to provide an S3-compatible object storage (e.g., MinIO self-hosted, or an AWS S3 bucket) for Supabase Storage.
    • Two Separate Docker Compose Files (at a minimum): You'll have your application's docker-compose.yaml and Supabase's docker-compose.yaml running independently.

3. Local Development with Supabase CLI (For Local Development Only)

This is perfect for developing locally against a full Supabase stack without needing an internet connection or a cloud account.

  • How it works:
    • Install the Supabase CLI (brew install supabase/supabase/supabase on macOS).
    • In a separate directory (or your main project root if you want the .supabase folder there), run supabase init.
    • Run supabase start. This will spin up a local Supabase stack using Docker, including Auth, Storage, Realtime, and Postgres.
    • The CLI will output local URLs and keys (e.g., SUPABASE_URL=http://localhost:54321, SUPABASE_ANON_KEY=...).
    • Configure your classroomio application's environment variables (.env file) to use these local Supabase URLs and keys when running your docker-compose up.
  • Pros:
    • Easy to spin up a full Supabase stack locally for development.
    • No need for cloud resources during development.
  • Cons:
    • Not for Production: This setup is for development only. It's not designed for scalability, high availability, or robust production deployment.
    • You're still running two separate Docker Compose environments (yours and the one managed by the Supabase CLI).

Your Best Path Forward:

Given your current "hard to package" concern and the fact that you use the full Supabase feature set (Auth, Storage, Realtime):

  1. For Production Deployments: Strongly consider sticking with the managed Supabase service. The overhead of self-hosting the entire Supabase platform is significant and requires dedicated DevOps expertise. It's often more expensive in terms of developer time and potential operational issues than paying for the managed service.
  2. If Self-Hosting in Production is Non-Negotiable: You must follow Supabase's official self-hosting guides (https://github.com/supabase/supabase/tree/master/docker is a starting point, but look for more comprehensive guides for production). This will involve a separate deployment of the Supabase stack, and your classroomio services will simply connect to it as an external dependency. You will not modify your classroomio's docker-compose.yaml to contain the entire Supabase stack.
  3. For Local Development: Use the Supabase CLI (supabase start) alongside your docker-compose up for classroomio. This provides a very smooth local development experience for testing all Supabase features.

Trying to cram the Supabase self-hosting docker-compose.yaml into your application's docker-compose.yaml is the wrong approach and will lead to an unmanageable and unmaintainable setup.

User

thank you

Assistant (gemini-2.5-flash)

You're very welcome! I'm glad I could provide clearer guidance now that I understand your full usage of Supabase (Auth, Storage, Realtime, etc.).

Just to reiterate the core takeaway:

  • For ease of deployment and maintenance, a managed Supabase instance is usually the best choice for production.
  • For local development, the Supabase CLI (supabase start) is your friend.
  • Self-hosting the entire Supabase platform in production is a significant undertaking that goes beyond simply modifying your existing docker-compose.yaml.

If you have any more questions as you consider your options, feel free to ask!

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