How to Set Up an Odoo 18 Instance Using Docker and Docker Compose

Odoo is a popular open-source ERP system that integrates various business applications into one cohesive platform.

Setting up an Odoo instance manually can be time-consuming and error-prone. With Docker and Docker Compose, you can simplify the process and ensure a smooth deployment. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the steps to set up Odoo 18 with PostgreSQL using Docker and Docker Compose.

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Why Use Docker and Docker Compose?

Using Docker simplifies application deployment by encapsulating everything in containers. Docker Compose further enhances this by allowing you to define and manage multi-container applications easily.

For our Odoo 18 setup, we’ll use Docker Compose to manage:

1. A PostgreSQL database for storing Odoo data.

2. An Odoo web service built from a custom Dockerfile.

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Prerequisites

Before starting, ensure you have the following installed on your system:

• Docker

• Docker Compose

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Project Setup

Here’s the configuration we’ll use for Odoo 18.

1. docker-compose.yml

This file defines two services:

• db: Runs the PostgreSQL database container.

• odoo_web: Runs the Odoo web service container.

services:
  db:
    image: postgres:16
    ports:
      - "5432:5432" 
    environment:
      - POSTGRES_DB=postgres
      - POSTGRES_USER=odoo18
      - POSTGRES_PASSWORD=odoo
    volumes:
      - odoo18-db-data:/var/lib/postgresql/data

  odoo_web:
    build:
      context: .
      dockerfile: Dockerfile
    ports:
      - "8069:8069"
    environment:
      - DB_HOST=db
      - DB_PORT=5432
      - DB_USER=odoo18
      - DB_PASSWORD=odoo
    volumes:
      - ./customs:/customs
      - ./odoo.conf:/etc/odoo/odoo.conf
      - odoo18-web-data:/var/lib/odoo

volumes:
  odoo18-web-data:
  odoo18-db-data:

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2. odoo.conf

This file contains configuration settings for the Odoo instance, such as database credentials, addons paths, and system limits.

[options]
addons_path = /usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/odoo/addons,/customs
admin_passwd = pass1234
db_host = db
db_port = 5432
db_user = odoo18
db_password = odoo
limit_time_cpu = 1200
limit_time_real = 1800

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3. Dockerfile

The Dockerfile builds the Odoo web service image, exposing the required port and specifying the command to run Odoo.

FROM odoo:18  
EXPOSE 8069  
CMD ["odoo"]

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Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Set Up the Project Directory

Create a project folder and add the following files:

• docker-compose.yml

• Dockerfile

• odoo.conf

• A customs/ folder for custom Odoo modules.

Your directory should look like this:

plaintextCopyEdit.  
├── Dockerfile  
├── docker-compose.yml  
├── customs/  
└── odoo.conf

Step 2: Build and Start the Containers

Run the following command to build and start the containers in detached mode:

docker compose up -d

This will:

1. Pull the PostgreSQL and Odoo 18 images.

2. Build the Odoo web service image from the Dockerfile.

3. Start both containers.

Step 3: Access Odoo

Once the services are running, open your browser and visit:

http://localhost:8069

You’ll see the Odoo setup page where you can configure and log in to your instance.

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Conclusion

Congratulations! You’ve successfully set up an Odoo 18 instance with Docker and Docker Compose. This setup provides a modular, scalable, and portable development environment, making it easier to manage and customize your Odoo projects.