Use Case : UC15 – Mount Local Code in Docker for Live Development
- Author: Tugba Ilhan
- Date / Version: 10/07/2025 - v0.1
User roles
| Role | Description |
|---|---|
| Developer | Writes and modifies PrestaShop code locally |
| Docker Runtime | Runs the containerized environment |
| Host Operating System | Provides access to local file system |
| CI/CD System (Optional) | May reuse mounted code for pipeline tasks (optional) |
Prerequisites / Conditions
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Developer has a local PrestaShop project on their machine
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Docker is installed and running
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Docker Compose or a custom Dockerfile is available
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Proper volumes configuration is defined in docker-compose.yml or docker run
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File permissions allow Docker to read/write mapped folders
Use Case Diagram
Description of use case – Make Payment
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The developer sets up a Docker container for PrestaShop development.
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Local project directory is mounted into the container using volume mapping (e.g., volumes: ./prestashop:/var/www/html).
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Developer edits files using their local IDE or editor.
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Changes are instantly reflected inside the container’s web server (Apache/Nginx).
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Developer reloads the browser to verify the updates.
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Optionally, changes can be committed and tested in CI/CD pipelines.
Exceptions
| ID | Description |
|---|---|
| E1 | Volume mount not working → Check Docker version and permissions |
| E2 | File permission issues → Ensure correct user/group mapping inside container |
| E3 | Web server not auto-reloading → Restart container or use tools like nodemon, browser-sync, or PHP reload modules |
| E4 | Mounting large folders slows down Docker (especially on Windows/macOS) → Optimize sync or use docker-sync |
Result
Developer can edit code locally and see changes reflected live in the Docker container, significantly accelerating the development-feedback cycle.
Use frequency
High – Used daily during active development of PrestaShop modules or themes.
Additional information
- Volume mapping example:
volumes: - ./prestashop:/var/www/html
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Recommended tools:
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Docker Compose
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VS Code Remote Containers
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Mutagen or docker-sync (for better performance on macOS)
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Common paths:
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/var/www/html (PrestaShop root in container)
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./modules, ./themes (specific local folders to mount)
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Ensure .gitignore does not ignore mounted files unintentionally
Sources
This use case follows Docker’s official best practices and recommendations from PrestaShop’s developer documentation and the open-source PHP container community.