$docker.recipes

Kanboard

beginner

Minimalist Kanban project management.

[i]Overview

Kanboard is an open-source project management software that implements the Kanban methodology through a clean, minimalist web interface. Created by Frédéric Guillot in 2014, Kanboard focuses on simplicity and ease of use while providing essential project management features like task boards, swimlanes, time tracking, and basic reporting. Unlike heavyweight project management solutions, Kanboard strips away complexity to deliver a focused tool that teams can adopt immediately without extensive training or configuration. This Docker deployment packages Kanboard with an integrated Nginx web server and SQLite database, creating a self-contained project management solution that requires no external dependencies. The containerized approach eliminates the traditional LAMP stack setup requirements while maintaining all of Kanboard's core functionality including user management, project organization, and plugin support. The configuration includes dedicated volume mounts for data persistence, plugin storage, and SSL certificate management. This stack is ideal for small to medium teams, freelancers, and organizations seeking a lightweight alternative to complex project management platforms like Jira or Asana. Development teams, creative agencies, and personal productivity enthusiasts will appreciate Kanboard's straightforward approach to task visualization and workflow management, while system administrators benefit from the simplified deployment and maintenance requirements of the containerized solution.

[*]Key Features

  • [+]Visual Kanban boards with customizable columns and swimlanes for organized task management
  • [+]Built-in time tracking with automatic and manual time logging capabilities
  • [+]Gantt chart visualization for project timeline and dependency management
  • [+]Subtask creation and hierarchical task organization with progress tracking
  • [+]Plugin ecosystem supporting integrations with Slack, GitHub, GitLab, and calendar systems
  • [+]REST API and webhook support for automation and third-party tool integration
  • [+]Multi-user support with role-based permissions and project-level access control
  • [+]Automatic notifications and email alerts for task assignments and due dates

[#]Common Use Cases

  • [1]Software development teams tracking feature development and bug fixes through sprint cycles
  • [2]Marketing agencies managing campaign workflows and client deliverables across multiple projects
  • [3]Freelancers organizing client work with time tracking for accurate billing and project estimation
  • [4]Small business operations teams coordinating internal processes and task assignments
  • [5]Personal productivity management for individuals tracking goals, habits, and project milestones
  • [6]Remote teams requiring a simple, accessible project dashboard without complex configuration
  • [7]Educational institutions managing course projects and assignment workflows for students and faculty

[!]Prerequisites

  • [!]Docker Engine 20.10+ and Docker Compose V2 for container orchestration
  • [!]Minimum 512MB RAM allocation for smooth Kanboard operation with multiple projects
  • [!]Available port 8080 for web interface access or alternative port configuration
  • [!]Persistent storage space of at least 1GB for project data, attachments, and backups
  • [!]Basic understanding of Kanban methodology and project management workflows
  • [!]Network connectivity for plugin installations and external service integrations if required
[!]

WARNING: For development & testing. Review security settings, change default credentials, and test thoroughly before production use. See Terms

[$]docker-compose.yml

[docker-compose.yml]
1services: 
2  kanboard: 
3    image: kanboard/kanboard:latest
4    container_name: kanboard
5    restart: unless-stopped
6    ports: 
7      - "8080:80"
8    volumes: 
9      - kanboard_data:/var/www/app/data
10      - kanboard_plugins:/var/www/app/plugins
11      - kanboard_ssl:/etc/nginx/ssl
12
13volumes: 
14  kanboard_data: 
15  kanboard_plugins: 
16  kanboard_ssl:

[$].env Template

[.env]
1# No environment variables required

[i]Usage Notes

  1. [1]Docs: https://docs.kanboard.org/
  2. [2]Access at http://localhost:8080 - default: admin/admin
  3. [3]Minimalist design focused on simplicity
  4. [4]Features: swimlanes, subtasks, time tracking, Gantt
  5. [5]Plugins: calendar, slack, github, gitlab integrations
  6. [6]API and webhooks for automation

[>]Quick Start

[terminal]
1# 1. Create the compose file
2cat > docker-compose.yml << 'EOF'
3services:
4  kanboard:
5    image: kanboard/kanboard:latest
6    container_name: kanboard
7    restart: unless-stopped
8    ports:
9      - "8080:80"
10    volumes:
11      - kanboard_data:/var/www/app/data
12      - kanboard_plugins:/var/www/app/plugins
13      - kanboard_ssl:/etc/nginx/ssl
14
15volumes:
16  kanboard_data:
17  kanboard_plugins:
18  kanboard_ssl:
19EOF
20
21# 2. Create the .env file
22cat > .env << 'EOF'
23# No environment variables required
24EOF
25
26# 3. Start the services
27docker compose up -d
28
29# 4. View logs
30docker compose logs -f

[>]One-Liner

Run this command to download and set up the recipe in one step:

[terminal]
1curl -fsSL https://docker.recipes/api/recipes/kanboard/run | bash

[?]Troubleshooting

  • [!]Permission denied errors on data directory: Run 'docker exec kanboard chown -R www-data:www-data /var/www/app/data' to fix file ownership
  • [!]Kanboard shows blank page or 500 error: Check container logs with 'docker logs kanboard' and verify volume mounts are properly created
  • [!]Cannot install plugins: Ensure the plugins volume is mounted and writable, then restart the container after plugin installation
  • [!]Lost admin access after user changes: Connect to container and reset admin password using Kanboard's CLI tools in /var/www/app
  • [!]Email notifications not working: Configure SMTP settings in Kanboard's admin panel and test mail server connectivity from container
  • [!]Database corruption after container restart: Backup SQLite database regularly and check Docker volume integrity with 'docker volume inspect kanboard_data'

Community Notes

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## Download Recipe Kit

Get all files in a ready-to-deploy package

Includes docker-compose.yml, .env template, README, and license

## Components

kanboard

## Tags

#kanboard#kanban#tasks#simple

## Category

Productivity & Collaboration

## Related