---
title: Docker Setup
description: Configure messaging channels for Docker and one-line installs
---

# Docker Setup

For Docker and one-line installs, configure messaging channels in the generated
`docker/.env` file. You do not need to edit `surfsense_backend/.env.example`.

The Compose stack passes `docker/.env` into the backend, worker, and beat
containers. Database, Redis, SearXNG, and internal Docker networking are already
wired by Compose.

## Public URLs

For localhost-only testing, the defaults are enough for the SurfSense UI, but
public webhooks from Telegram, WhatsApp, and Slack require a public HTTPS backend
URL. Use your deployed backend URL or a tunnel such as Cloudflare Tunnel or
ngrok.

When using a custom domain or tunnel, set:

```bash
BACKEND_URL=https://api.example.com
GATEWAY_BASE_URL=https://api.example.com
NEXT_FRONTEND_URL=https://app.example.com
NEXT_PUBLIC_FASTAPI_BACKEND_URL=https://api.example.com
```

## Environment Variables

Uncomment only the channel you are enabling in `docker/.env`.

| Channel | Main variables |
| --- | --- |
| Telegram | `TELEGRAM_SHARED_BOT_TOKEN`, `TELEGRAM_SHARED_BOT_USERNAME`, `TELEGRAM_WEBHOOK_SECRET`, `GATEWAY_BASE_URL`, `GATEWAY_TELEGRAM_INTAKE_MODE` |
| WhatsApp Cloud API | `GATEWAY_WHATSAPP_INTAKE_MODE`, `WHATSAPP_SHARED_BUSINESS_TOKEN`, `WHATSAPP_SHARED_PHONE_NUMBER_ID`, `WHATSAPP_SHARED_DISPLAY_PHONE_NUMBER`, `WHATSAPP_SHARED_WABA_ID`, `WHATSAPP_WEBHOOK_VERIFY_TOKEN`, `WHATSAPP_WEBHOOK_APP_SECRET` |
| WhatsApp Baileys | `GATEWAY_WHATSAPP_INTAKE_MODE`, `WHATSAPP_BRIDGE_URL`, `WHATSAPP_MODE` |
| Slack | `SLACK_CLIENT_ID`, `SLACK_CLIENT_SECRET`, `GATEWAY_SLACK_ENABLED`, `GATEWAY_SLACK_SIGNING_SECRET`, `GATEWAY_SLACK_REDIRECT_URI` |
| Discord | `DISCORD_CLIENT_ID`, `DISCORD_CLIENT_SECRET`, `DISCORD_BOT_TOKEN`, `GATEWAY_DISCORD_ENABLED`, `GATEWAY_DISCORD_REDIRECT_URI` |

After editing `docker/.env`, restart the stack:

```bash
docker compose up -d
```

For WhatsApp Baileys, start the Compose profile:

```bash
docker compose --profile whatsapp up -d
```

Then follow the per-channel setup pages:

- [Telegram](/docs/messaging-channels/telegram)
- [WhatsApp](/docs/messaging-channels/whatsapp)
- [Slack](/docs/messaging-channels/slack)
- [Discord](/docs/messaging-channels/discord)