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How to Build a Links Landing Page With Laravel and Docker Compose

A practical Laravel and Docker Compose guide for building a links landing page, starting with Route::view and progressing to a persistent model, database container, production images, and operational checks.
Length13 min Posted Quest giverVGSources Team
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Build the page in two layers: Laravel serves a Blade view from routes/web.php, while Docker Compose runs the web server, PHP-FPM process, optional command-line workspace, and database as connected services. Start with a static route to prove the page works, then move link records into a model and migration when you need editing, ordering, filtering, or persistence without redeploying code.

This guide shows both paths, a development Compose setup, the environment values that make container-to-container database connections work, and the production changes required before exposing the page publicly.

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Choose the right size of application first

A links landing page can be a single Blade template or a small content-management feature. Decide which one you need before creating containers and tables.

Decision Simpler option Move to the larger option when
Page data An array in a controller or Route::view Links are edited, reordered, filtered, disabled, or different for each user
Persistence No database, or SQLite for a local demo Several environments or editors need durable shared data; use PostgreSQL, MySQL, or MariaDB consistently
Containers One compact Compose file for local work Development and production need different images, volumes, health checks, secrets, or asset-build stages
Laravel tooling Laravel Sail or a small hand-written Compose file You need explicit Nginx, PHP-FPM, workers, asset building, or operational controls

The examples below use a model-backed page after demonstrating the static version. That gives you a working screen early while preserving a straightforward upgrade path.

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Prerequisites and a practical project layout

Install Docker Engine with the Compose plugin and create a Laravel application skeleton. You can create the skeleton on the host with Composer, or run Composer from a workspace container. Keep the project files mounted into development containers so code changes are visible immediately.

  • Docker Engine and the docker compose command.
  • A Laravel application whose PHP requirement matches the PHP image you select.
  • Composer for dependency installation and Artisan commands.
  • An HTTPS destination for every public link you publish.

A useful layout is:

links-page/
├── app/Http/Controllers/LinkPageController.php
├── app/Models/Link.php
├── database/migrations/
├── database/seeders/DatabaseSeeder.php
├── resources/views/links.blade.php
├── routes/web.php
├── docker/nginx/default.conf
├── Dockerfile
├── compose.dev.yaml
└── .env

Keep production configuration in a separate file or deployment environment rather than copying development credentials into a server.

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Define the link record

Use five fields for a useful first version: a human-readable label, destination URL, optional description, display order, and an active flag. The active flag lets you hide a link without deleting its history; the order column avoids depending on database insertion order.

For a throwaway demonstration, an array is enough:

$links = [
    [
        'label' => 'Speedrun archive',
        'url' => 'https://example.com/speedruns',
        'description' => 'Routes, splits, and personal bests.',
    ],
];

Use a database once a non-developer must change the page or when the same content must survive image rebuilds and container replacement.

Expose the page from routes/web.php

Laravel’s routes/web.php file is intended for browser-facing routes and receives the web middleware group, including session and CSRF behavior appropriate to web pages.

Static page with Route::view

Route::view is the shortest route when the view needs no server-side data:

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<?php

use IlluminateSupportFacadesRoute;

Route::view('/', 'links');

The second argument maps to resources/views/links.blade.php. This is a good smoke test before adding a database.

Dynamic page through a controller

Move the route to a controller when links come from a model or need authorization, filtering, or other decisions:

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<?php

use AppHttpControllersLinkPageController;
use IlluminateSupportFacadesRoute;

Route::get('/', [LinkPageController::class, 'show'])
    ->name('links.home');

Generate the controller inside the PHP or workspace container:

php artisan make:controller LinkPageController

Then retrieve only active records and apply a deterministic order:

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<?php

namespace AppHttpControllers;

use AppModelsLink;
use IlluminateViewView;

class LinkPageController extends Controller
{
    public function show(): View
    {
        $links = Link::query()
            ->where('is_active', true)
            ->orderBy('sort_order')
            ->orderBy('id')
            ->get();

        return view('links', compact('links'));
    }
}

The secondary id sort prevents two records with the same display order from jumping around between requests.

Create the migration and model when persistence is needed

Migration

Create a migration:

php artisan make:model Link -m

Edit the generated migration so the schema expresses the page’s needs:

<?php

use IlluminateDatabaseMigrationsMigration;
use IlluminateDatabaseSchemaBlueprint;
use IlluminateSupportFacadesSchema;

return new class extends Migration
{
    public function up(): void
    {
        Schema::create('links', function (Blueprint $table) {
            $table->id();
            $table->string('label');
            $table->string('url', 2048);
            $table->text('description')->nullable();
            $table->unsignedInteger('sort_order')->default(0);
            $table->boolean('is_active')->default(true);
            $table->timestamps();

            $table->index(['is_active', 'sort_order']);
        });
    }

    public function down(): void
    {
        Schema::dropIfExists('links');
    }
};

The URL length allows long query strings, but validation should still reject malformed or unsafe schemes. Store only destinations your editors intend to publish.

Model

<?php

namespace AppModels;

use IlluminateDatabaseEloquentModel;

class Link extends Model
{
    protected $fillable = [
        'label',
        'url',
        'description',
        'sort_order',
        'is_active',
    ];

    protected function casts(): array
    {
        return [
            'is_active' => 'boolean',
            'sort_order' => 'integer',
        ];
    }
}

Run the migration only after the database service is reachable:

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php artisan migrate

Seed useful content for a fresh environment

A seeder prevents an empty page after a new developer clones the project or a test database is recreated:

<?php

namespace DatabaseSeeders;

use AppModelsLink;
use IlluminateDatabaseSeeder;

class DatabaseSeeder extends Seeder
{
    public function run(): void
    {
        Link::query()->upsert([
            [
                'label' => 'Game project',
                'url' => 'https://example.com/project',
                'description' => 'Development notes and releases.',
                'sort_order' => 10,
                'is_active' => true,
            ],
            [
                'label' => 'Community',
                'url' => 'https://example.com/community',
                'description' => 'Updates and discussion.',
                'sort_order' => 20,
                'is_active' => true,
            ],
        ], ['url'], ['label', 'description', 'sort_order', 'is_active']);
    }
}

The URLs above are intentionally example destinations; replace them with real HTTPS endpoints before publishing. Run:

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Build an accessible Blade view

Create resources/views/links.blade.php. Escape labels and descriptions with Blade’s normal double-curly output, use a real link element rather than a clickable div, and preserve a visible keyboard focus state.

<!doctype html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
    <meta charset="utf-8">
    <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1">
    <title>My links</title>
    <style>
        :root { color-scheme: light dark; font-family: system-ui, sans-serif; }
        body { max-width: 42rem; margin: 0 auto; padding: 2rem 1rem; }
        .links { display: grid; gap: 0.8rem; padding: 0; list-style: none; }
        .card { display: block; padding: 1rem; border: 1px solid currentColor; border-radius: 0.6rem; text-decoration: none; }
        .card:focus-visible { outline: 3px solid #4f9cff; outline-offset: 3px; }
        .description { display: block; margin-top: 0.35rem; opacity: 0.8; }
    </style>
</head>
<body>
    <header>
        <h1>My links</h1>
        <p>Projects, community spaces, and useful resources.</p>
    </header>

    <main>
        <ul class="links">
            @forelse ($links as $link)
                <li>
                    <a class="card" href="{{ $link->url }}">
                        <strong>{{ $link->label }}</strong>
                        @if ($link->description)
                            <span class="description">{{ $link->description }}</span>
                        @endif
                    </a>
                </li>
            @empty
                <li>No links are published yet.</li>
            @endforelse
        </ul>
    </main>
</body>
</html>

For the static route, replace the loop with a fixed list or pass an array from a controller. Do not use raw Blade output for editor-entered labels or URLs; escaped output prevents markup injection.

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Define the development stack with Docker Compose

Compose defines cooperating services, networks, and volumes in YAML. A practical Laravel development layout separates Nginx, PHP-FPM, an optional workspace for Composer and frontend commands, and the database. The following file is a pattern, not a timeless version prescription: verify that the PHP image, Laravel release, database driver, and extensions are compatible, then pin the versions you choose.

services:
  web:
    image: nginx:1.27-alpine
    ports:
      - "8080:80"
    volumes:
      - ./:/var/www/html
      - ./docker/nginx/default.conf:/etc/nginx/conf.d/default.conf:ro
    depends_on:
      php-fpm:
        condition: service_started
    networks:
      - app

  php-fpm:
    build:
      context: .
      dockerfile: Dockerfile
    working_dir: /var/www/html
    volumes:
      - ./:/var/www/html
    env_file:
      - .env
    networks:
      - app
      - data

  workspace:
    build:
      context: .
      dockerfile: Dockerfile
    working_dir: /var/www/html
    command: ["sleep", "infinity"]
    volumes:
      - ./:/var/www/html
    env_file:
      - .env
    networks:
      - app
      - data

  database:
    image: postgres:16-alpine
    environment:
      POSTGRES_DB: links
      POSTGRES_USER: links
      POSTGRES_PASSWORD: change-this-for-local-use
    volumes:
      - db-data:/var/lib/postgresql/data
    healthcheck:
      test: ["CMD-SHELL", "pg_isready -U links -d links"]
      interval: 5s
      timeout: 5s
      retries: 10
    networks:
      - data

networks:
  app:
  data:

volumes:
  db-data:

The workspace service is optional. It is convenient for Artisan, Composer, Node, and asset commands without installing every tool on the host. Both PHP services mount the same source tree, while the database keeps its data in a named volume.

Build a PHP image with the required extensions

Laravel’s exact extension list depends on the framework release and chosen database. A minimal PostgreSQL-oriented Dockerfile might look like this:

FROM php:8.3-fpm

RUN apt-get update 
    && apt-get install -y --no-install-recommends git unzip libpq-dev 
    && docker-php-ext-install pdo_pgsql 
    && rm -rf /var/lib/apt/lists/*

COPY --from=composer:2 /usr/bin/composer /usr/bin/composer
WORKDIR /var/www/html

PHP 8.3 is an example pin, not a guarantee that it is correct for every Laravel release. Check the framework’s current support matrix before changing the tag. Add extensions required by your application, and use a separate production image rather than shipping development-only tools.

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Point Nginx at PHP-FPM

Create docker/nginx/default.conf:

server {
    listen 80;
    server_name _;
    root /var/www/html/public;
    index index.php;

    location / {
        try_files $uri $uri/ /index.php?$query_string;
    }

    location ~ .php$ {
        include fastcgi_params;
        fastcgi_param SCRIPT_FILENAME $document_root$fastcgi_script_name;
        fastcgi_pass php-fpm:9000;
    }

    location ~ /.ht {
        deny all;
    }
}

php-fpm is the Compose service name. Compose places services on a shared network and provides DNS for that name; Nginx therefore does not need an IP address.

Configure Laravel for the Compose network

When Laravel runs inside a container, the database host is the service name, not localhost. In the example above, set these values in the environment used by the PHP service:

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APP_ENV=local
APP_DEBUG=true
APP_URL=http://localhost:8080

DB_CONNECTION=pgsql
DB_HOST=database
DB_PORT=5432
DB_DATABASE=links
DB_USERNAME=links
DB_PASSWORD=change-this-for-local-use

localhost inside the PHP container refers to that PHP container itself, so it cannot reach PostgreSQL in the separate database container. The host-side port is not needed for this internal connection. Keep APP_KEY, credentials, and environment-specific ports in ignored files or your deployment secret store. Generate an application key once for a new installation:

php artisan key:generate

If you choose MySQL or MariaDB instead, change DB_CONNECTION, the database image, health check, port, and PHP driver together. A mixed configuration is a common cause of confusing connection errors.

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Start, initialize, and verify the local page

  1. Build and start the development stack in the background:
    docker compose -f compose.dev.yaml up --build -d
  2. Check service state and logs:
    docker compose -f compose.dev.yaml ps
    docker compose -f compose.dev.yaml logs -f web php-fpm database
  3. Run migrations from the workspace service:
    docker compose -f compose.dev.yaml exec workspace php artisan migrate
  4. Seed the example links:
    docker compose -f compose.dev.yaml exec workspace php artisan db:seed
  5. Inspect the registered route if the browser returns a 404:
    docker compose -f compose.dev.yaml exec workspace php artisan route:list
  6. Open http://localhost:8080, or the host port you mapped under web.ports.

If you changed environment values and Laravel appears to ignore them, clear cached configuration inside the PHP container:

docker compose -f compose.dev.yaml exec workspace php artisan optimize:clear

Do not run destructive commands such as migrate:fresh against a database that contains content you need.

Move from a demo to an editable links page

The public page should remain read-only unless you deliberately add an administration surface. For editing, add authenticated routes in a separate controller, validate every field, and authorize who may create, update, reorder, deactivate, or delete records.

A validation rule set should include:

  • label: required text with a reasonable maximum length.
  • url: required URL using an allowed scheme such as HTTPS; reject javascript: and other executable schemes.
  • description: nullable text with a limit suitable for the card layout.
  • sort_order: a non-negative integer.
  • is_active: a boolean.

Use policies or gates for authorization, CSRF protection for browser forms, and rate limiting for login and write endpoints. Keep the public query limited to active rows so a draft or disabled destination cannot leak through an accidental URL.

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Production Compose is a different configuration

Development bind mounts, debug mode, and an always-running workspace are conveniences, not a production architecture. Maintain a production Compose file or an equivalent deployment definition with separately built images.

Use an immutable application image

Build Composer dependencies and frontend assets during image creation, then copy the resulting application into a runtime image. Exclude source-control metadata, test fixtures, and development packages. Set APP_DEBUG=false and provide the application key and database credentials through your platform’s secret mechanism.

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Separate Nginx and PHP-FPM runtime concerns

Run Nginx with a read-only application volume or an image containing the built public directory. Run PHP-FPM with only the extensions and permissions it needs. If the application queues jobs, add a worker service rather than making web requests perform long tasks.

Use health checks and controlled startup

A database health check can prevent the application from attempting migrations before the server accepts connections. Health checks do not replace backups or schema management; they only describe whether a service is ready. Run migrations as an explicit release step, not automatically on every web-container restart.

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Persist and protect state

Use a named or platform-managed volume for user-uploaded files and a durable database service with tested backups. Do not store production secrets in a committed Compose file. Put TLS at a trusted reverse proxy or load balancer, force HTTPS, and restrict database networking so it is not publicly exposed.

Build assets before serving traffic

If the page uses Vite or another asset pipeline, compile assets in a build stage and serve the generated files from the production image. A browser receiving a missing manifest or development-only asset URL usually indicates that the asset build was skipped or the runtime environment points at the wrong host.

The sample production arrangement is educational. Adapt image hardening, TLS termination, backups, monitoring, log retention, scaling, and secret delivery to the hosting platform you select.

Laravel Sail versus a custom Compose file

Laravel Sail supplies a maintained Compose-based development environment and is often the quickest way to begin. Its compose.yaml describes containers that work together to build a Laravel application. A custom file is more transparent when you need a particular Nginx layout, a separate workspace, a non-default database, or production-like health checks.

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Need Sail is usually suitable Custom Compose is preferable
Fast local setup Use the generated services and Sail commands Only if the generated layout conflicts with your project
Explicit service topology Possible, but requires adapting the generated configuration Define Nginx, PHP-FPM, workers, assets, and networks directly
Production deployment Treat Sail as a development tool Create a hardened production definition and images
Team consistency Helpful when everyone uses the same supported defaults Helpful when the team must mirror an existing platform architecture

Choose one workflow for the team and document its commands. Mixing host-installed services, Sail, and a custom Compose file often produces different PHP extensions, cached configuration, and database state on different machines.

Troubleshoot by symptom

Symptom Likely cause Fix
Nginx returns 502 Bad Gateway PHP-FPM is stopped, listening on another port, or the upstream name is wrong Run docker compose ps, inspect php-fpm logs, and ensure fastcgi_pass php-fpm:9000 matches the service and listener
SQL connection refused DB_HOST is localhost, credentials differ, or the database is not ready Use the Compose service name, compare all database variables, wait for the health check, then retry migrations
Class or extension missing The PHP image lacks Composer dependencies or a required extension Rebuild with --build, run composer install in the workspace, and add the driver to the Dockerfile
Page still shows old environment values Laravel configuration is cached Run php artisan optimize:clear and restart the affected service if needed
Links disappear after recreating containers Database data was stored only in the container filesystem Use the named database volume and verify it with docker volume ls
Every request is a 404 The Nginx document root or Laravel route is wrong Point Nginx at /var/www/html/public, run php artisan route:list, and confirm the root route is registered
CSS or JavaScript is missing in production Assets were not built, copied, or referenced with the correct base URL Run the production asset build, verify the generated files are in the image, and inspect browser network errors

Security, accessibility, and maintenance checks

  • Keep APP_DEBUG=false outside local development so stack traces and environment values are not exposed.
  • Validate and escape editor-controlled labels, descriptions, and URLs. Permit only schemes your application genuinely supports.
  • Use HTTPS destinations and consider whether opening a new tab is necessary; if you add target="_blank", also add rel="noopener noreferrer".
  • Give each card a descriptive accessible name, preserve visible :focus-visible styling, and ensure text and borders meet your contrast target.
  • Keep database credentials out of Git and rotate them if they are ever committed.
  • Back up the database and uploaded assets, then periodically test restoration rather than assuming a volume is a backup.
  • Pin image tags and review them deliberately. Update PHP, the database image, and Laravel dependencies against their compatibility requirements instead of silently tracking a moving tag.
  • Use application logs and container logs together. A web-server error can hide a PHP exception, while a Laravel exception can be caused by a database health problem.

Release checklist

  1. Confirm the root route renders the intended Blade view and that inactive records are excluded.
  2. Run migrations against a disposable copy of the production schema before release.
  3. Build and scan the production images; do not ship the development workspace or debug settings.
  4. Set the production application key, URL, database host, credentials, and cache/session settings through secrets or environment configuration.
  5. Verify the database health check, persistent storage, backup schedule, and restore procedure.
  6. Terminate TLS, redirect HTTP to HTTPS, and keep the database network private.
  7. Open the page with a keyboard, test a narrow viewport, activate every card, and check that long labels and descriptions do not break the layout.
  8. Monitor Nginx, PHP-FPM, application, and database logs after deployment; keep a rollback image and migration plan.

For a single owner with rarely changing links, stop after the static route and Blade view. For a page that evolves independently of deployments, use the migration, model, seeder, and controller, then operate the Compose services with persistent storage and environment-specific production controls.

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