Run MySQL locally on macOS using Docker

Running a MySQL server locally can be a hassle, especially when dealing with different versions and configurations. However, using Docker simplifies this process significantly. In this tutorial, we’ll walk through setting up a MySQL server for local development using Docker, which is particularly useful when working with tools like Prisma and NextAuth.

Prerequisites

• Docker installed on your machine.
• Basic understanding of Docker concepts.

Step 1: Create a Docker-Compose File

First, we need to create a docker-compose.yml file which defines our MySQL service. This file ensures that MySQL runs with the desired settings.

version: '3.3'

services: db: image: mysql:latest # Using the latest official MySQL image restart: always environment: MYSQL_DATABASE: ‘testdb’ # Name of your database MYSQL_ROOT_PASSWORD: ‘test’ # Root password (change for production) MYSQL_ROOT_HOST: ‘%’ # Allows root connections from any host ports: - ‘3306:3306’ # Port mapping volumes: - ./:/var/lib/mysql # Maps your local directory to the container's MySQL data directory </code>

This file tells Docker to run the latest MySQL image, set up a database named testdb, and configure the necessary environment variables. It also maps port 3306 to your local machine and uses a volume for data persistence.

Step 2: Running the MySQL Server

To start the MySQL server, navigate to the directory containing your docker-compose.yml file and run the following command in your terminal:

docker-compose up -d

This command starts your MySQL server in detached mode, meaning it runs in the background.

Step 3: Accessing the Database

To access your new MySQL database, you can use any MySQL client with the following credentials:

• Host: localhost
• Port: 3306
• User: root
• Password: test

Remember, this is for local development, so it’s okay to use simple credentials. However, for a production environment, ensure to use a secure password.

Step 4: Integrating with Prisma

If you’re using Prisma, you can now connect to your local MySQL server. Update your Prisma schema file to include the MySQL connection URL:

mysql://root:test@localhost:3306/testdb

Conclusion

Docker makes it incredibly easy to run a MySQL server locally, ensuring a consistent and isolated environment for your development needs. It’s especially useful when working with Prisma and NextAuth for authentication mechanisms. By following these steps, you can set up a flexible and robust development environment for your projects.