Docker Setup

[foertel]

Hey,

I am trying to run serena in a docker setup. Am I correct that in the running docker container, there should be

/workspaces
| - serena/
| - | - src/
| - | - serena_config.docker.yml
| - | - 
| - projects/
| - | - my_project/

When I run the docker container according to the docs, I only bind mount /workspaces/projects. But the serena_config.docker.yml lays in /workspaces/serena.

INFO:serena.agent:Loading Serena configuration from /workspaces/serena/serena_config.docker.yml

This folder is not bind mounted and will be --rm with the rest of the container on shutdown.

In another doc over here the whole /workspace directory is bind-mounted. I guess in the end it does not matter too much, where the projects are. Because you have to init them with their full path either way. But maybe the docs should still use one path as not to confuse ... me.

[pinionless]

I was also thinking about this issue because the instructions are not consistent for the docker deployment.
Also sometimes its "workspace", sometimes "workspaces".
This Q&A should be an "issue"

We need better, clear docker documentation
here is how I run it:

  serena:
    container_name: serena
    image: ghcr.io/oraios/serena:latest
    volumes:
      - ${HOME}/Docker/Serena/serena_config.docker.yml:/workspaces/serena/serena_config.docker.yml #config
      - ${HOME}/github/Project1:/workspaces/Project1
      - ${HOME}/github/Project2:/workspaces/Project2
    ports:
      - "${SERENA_PORT:-9121}:9121"  # MCP server port
      - "${SERENA_DASHBOARD_PORT:-24282}:24282"  # Dashboard port (default 0x5EDA = 24282)
    environment:
      - TZ=${TZ}
      - SERENA_DOCKER=1
    command:
      - "uv run --directory . serena-mcp-server --transport sse --port 9121 --host 0.0.0.0 --context ide-assistant"

[ladderschool]

I don't even use docker compose, just straight mcp add the docker image ghcr.io/oraios/serena:latest. I agree with you though, the documentation needs updating in how to run it. Either like me, or like you with a docker compose where you have to maintain the local files yourself if there's updates.

My way:

claude mcp add serena -- docker run --rm -i --network host \
   -v /home/user/project:/home/user/project \
   -v /home/user/.nvm:/home/user/.nvm \
   -v /home/user/project/.serena/serena_config.docker.yml:/workspaces/serena/serena_config.docker.yml \
   -e PATH="/home/user/.nvm/versions/node/v20.19.3/bin" \
   -e SERENA_DOCKER=1 \
   -p 24282:24282 \
   ghcr.io/oraios/serena:latest serena-mcp-server --transport stdio --context ide-assistant --project /home/user/project

For me I had to ensure language: typescript_vts in .serena/project.yml