How to Install OCA Modules with Odoo and Docker

For those looking to establish an Odoo server, utilizing Docker offers a highly efficient and contained solution. This method allows you to set up your Odoo instance within minutes via the command line, leveraging the power of "containerization." By isolating the Odoo server in a virtual Docker environment, you ensure that it operates without impacting other services or configurations on your host system.

Why Choose Docker for Odoo and OCA Modules?

Employing Docker for Odoo installations presents numerous advantages. It provides a practical, swift, and secure approach for testing and development, though it is robust enough to support full production environments. The ability to containerize Odoo simplifies dependency management and ensures consistent environments across different machines.

This guide outlines the fundamental steps, primarily tailored for Ubuntu operating systems, but the process can be readily adapted for macOS or Windows environments.

Prerequisites and Setup Steps

1. Install Docker and Docker Compose

   The initial step requires you to install Docker Engine and Docker Compose on your system. These powerful tools form the backbone of your containerized Odoo setup, enabling you to define and run multi-container Docker applications.

   • Install Docker Engine
   • Install Docker Compose

2. Create the Directory Structure

   Next, establish the necessary directory structure for your Odoo installation. For organizational purposes, we will assume your base installation directory will be named odoo. Execute the following commands in your terminal:

   mkdir odoo && cd odoo
   mkdir -p ./volumes/postgres ./volumes/odoo/addons ./volumes/odoo/filestore \
   ./volumes/odoo/sessions

   This command sequence creates the primary odoo directory and nested subdirectories essential for storing PostgreSQL data, custom Odoo addons, the filestore, and session data, ensuring data persistence and a clean separation of concerns.

3. Configure docker-compose.yml

   Within your newly created odoo directory, you will need to create a docker-compose.yml file. This configuration file defines the services, networks, and volumes for your Odoo and PostgreSQL containers, orchestrating their interaction.

   version: '3.3'
   services:
     postgres:
       image: postgres:9.5
       volumes:
         - ./volumes/postgres:/var/lib/postgresql/data
       environment:
         - POSTGRES_USER=odoo
     odoo:
       image: elicocorp/odoo:10.0
       command: start
       ports:
         - 127.0.0.1:8069:8069
       volumes:
         - ./volumes/odoo/addons:/opt/odoo/additional_addons
         - ./volumes/odoo/filestore:/opt/odoo/data/filestore
         - ./volumes/odoo/sessions:/opt/odoo/data/sessions
       links:
         - postgres:db
       environment:
         - ADDONS_REPO=https://github.com/OCA/business-requirement.git
         - ODOO_DB_USER=odoo

   The ADDONS_REPO environment variable in the Odoo service configuration is particularly important. It specifies the GitHub repository for the OCA business-requirement modules, enabling Odoo to automatically fetch and integrate these modules upon startup.

4. Launch Your Containers

   Once the docker-compose.yml file is correctly configured, you can initiate your Odoo and PostgreSQL containers. Navigate to your odoo directory in the terminal and execute the following command:

   docker-compose up -d odoo

   The -d flag instructs Docker Compose to run the containers in detached mode, allowing them to operate in the background while you continue using your terminal.

5. Access Odoo in Your Web Browser

   After the containers have successfully launched, open your preferred web browser and navigate to the URL configured in your docker-compose.yml file. In this specific example, the address is http://127.0.0.1:8069.

6. Create a New Database

   Upon your first access to the Odoo instance, you will be prompted to create a new database. Follow the on-screen instructions to configure and initialize your primary Odoo database for managing your business operations.

7. Update the Addons List

   To ensure that Odoo discovers all available modules, including those fetched from the OCA repository, you must update the addons list. First, activate developer mode within Odoo. Then, navigate through the menu to Apps > Update Apps List.

8. Install Business Requirements Modules

   Finally, with the addons list refreshed, you are ready to install the desired OCA modules. Locate and install the "Business Requirements" modules directly from the Apps menu within your Odoo interface.

Further Enhancements and Customization

To further refine and customize your Odoo Docker environment, including adjusting parameters or modifying default passwords for enhanced security and functionality, consult the comprehensive official documentation. This resource provides detailed guidance on advanced configurations and best practices for optimizing your Odoo deployment with Docker.