Everything is now containerised and in the docker compose

DOCKER_SETUP.md

@@ -1,63 +1,148 @@
 # Docker Setup for Recipe Management App
 
-## MongoDB Configuration
+## Full Stack Containerized Setup
 
-This project now includes a Docker Compose setup for MongoDB with persistent storage.
+This project includes a complete Docker Compose setup that orchestrates the entire application stack:
+- **Frontend**: React TypeScript application with Nginx
+- **Backend**: Node.js Express API
+- **Database**: MongoDB with persistent storage
+- **Admin Interface**: Mongo Express for database management
 
-### Environment Variables
+## Quick Start
 
-Create a `.env` file in the `backend/` directory with the following variables:
+1. **Create environment file**:
+   ```bash
+   cp env.example .env
+   ```
+   Edit the `.env` file with your desired credentials.
 
-```
-# MongoDB Configuration (parameterized for security)
+2. **Start all services**:
+   ```bash
+   docker-compose up -d
+   ```
+
+3. **Access the application**:
+   - **Frontend**: http://localhost:3000
+   - **Backend API**: http://localhost:5000
+   - **Mongo Express**: http://localhost:8081
+
+## Environment Configuration
+
+Create a `.env` file in the project root with the following variables:
+
+```bash
+# MongoDB Configuration
 MONGODB_USERNAME=admin
 MONGODB_PASSWORD=password123
-MONGODB_HOST=localhost
-MONGODB_PORT=27017
 MONGODB_DATABASE=recipe-management
 
-# Alternative: Use full connection string (overrides individual parameters)
-# MONGODB_URI=mongodb://admin:password123@localhost:27017/recipe-management?authSource=admin
-
-# Server Configuration
-PORT=5000
+# JWT Secret for Backend Authentication
+JWT_SECRET=your-super-secret-jwt-key-change-this-in-production
 ```
 
-**Note**: The application will automatically construct the MongoDB URI from the individual parameters. You can also override this by setting `MONGODB_URI` directly.
+## Services Architecture
 
-### Starting the Services
+### Frontend Service
+- **Container**: `recipe-management-frontend`
+- **Port**: 3000 (mapped to container port 80)
+- **Technology**: React TypeScript with Nginx
+- **Features**: 
+  - Production-optimized build
+  - API proxy to backend
+  - Gzip compression
+  - Security headers
 
-1. Start MongoDB and Mongo Express:
+### Backend Service
+- **Container**: `recipe-management-backend`
+- **Port**: 5000
+- **Technology**: Node.js Express
+- **Features**:
+  - Health checks
+  - Environment-based configuration
+  - Automatic MongoDB connection
+  - Non-root user security
+
+### MongoDB Service
+- **Container**: `recipe-management-mongodb`
+- **Port**: 27017
+- **Features**:
+  - Persistent data volume
+  - Health checks
+  - Automatic seed data loading
+  - Authentication enabled
+
+### Mongo Express Service
+- **Container**: `recipe-management-mongo-express`
+- **Port**: 8081
+- **Features**:
+  - Web-based MongoDB administration
+  - Connected to main MongoDB instance
+
+## Development Workflow
+
+### Building and Running
 ```bash
-docker-compose up -d
+# Build and start all services
+docker-compose up -d --build
+
+# View logs
+docker-compose logs -f
+
+# Stop all services
+docker-compose down
+
+# Stop and remove volumes (WARNING: This deletes data)
+docker-compose down -v
 ```
 
-2. Start the backend application:
+### Individual Service Management
 ```bash
-cd backend
-npm start
+# Restart specific service
+docker-compose restart backend
+
+# View logs for specific service
+docker-compose logs -f frontend
+
+# Execute commands in running container
+docker-compose exec backend sh
 ```
 
-### Services Included
+## Data Persistence
 
-- **MongoDB**: Database server on port 27017 with persistent volume
-- **Mongo Express**: Web-based MongoDB admin interface on port 8081
+- **MongoDB Data**: Stored in `mongodb_data` Docker volume
+- **Seed Data**: Automatically loaded from `backend/seedData.js` on first startup
+- **Persistent Storage**: Data survives container restarts and rebuilds
 
-### Default Credentials
+## Network Architecture
 
-- **MongoDB Admin User**: admin
-- **MongoDB Admin Password**: password123
-- **Database Name**: recipe-management
+All services communicate through a dedicated Docker network (`recipe-network`):
+- Frontend → Backend: Internal container communication
+- Backend → MongoDB: Internal container communication
+- External access via mapped ports only
 
-### Accessing Services
+## Security Features
 
-- **Mongo Express**: http://localhost:8081
-- **Backend API**: http://localhost:5000
+- **Non-root containers**: All services run as non-privileged users
+- **Environment-based secrets**: Credentials managed via environment variables
+- **Network isolation**: Services communicate only through defined network
+- **Health checks**: Automatic service health monitoring
+- **Security headers**: Frontend served with security headers via Nginx
 
-### Data Persistence
+## Troubleshooting
 
-MongoDB data is stored in a Docker volume named `mongodb_data` which persists between container restarts.
+### Common Issues
+1. **Port conflicts**: Ensure ports 3000, 5000, 8081, 27017 are available
+2. **Environment variables**: Check `.env` file exists and has correct values
+3. **Build failures**: Run `docker-compose build --no-cache` to rebuild from scratch
 
-### Seed Data
+### Useful Commands
+```bash
+# Check service status
+docker-compose ps
 
-The seed data from `backend/seedData.js` is automatically loaded when the MongoDB container starts for the first time.
+# View resource usage
+docker stats
+
+# Clean up unused Docker resources
+docker system prune -f
+```