Bolt.new AI and Docker integration: Step-by-Step Guide 2025

 

Setting Up Your TypeScript Server

 

• Create (or open) your main TypeScript file (for example, server.ts) in your Bolt.new AI project.
• Paste the following code snippet into server.ts. This code sets up an Express server that listens on a configurable port using the environment variable PORT (which Docker can set) or defaults to 3000:

• 
  import express from 'express';
  
  const app = express();
  const port = process.env.PORT || 3000;
  app.get('/', (req, res) => {
    res.send('Hello from Bolt.new AI integrated with Docker!');
  });
  app.listen(port, '0.0.0.0', () => {
    console.log(Server is running on port ${port});
  });
      

  
  


• Ensure that your project compiles TypeScript to JavaScript (usually into a dist directory) using the TypeScript compiler (tsc).

 

Creating the Dockerfile

 

• Create a new file in the root directory of your project and name it Dockerfile.
• Paste the following content into the Dockerfile. This file tells Docker how to build your application’s image:

• 
  Use an official Node.js runtime as a parent image
  FROM node:18-alpine
  
  Set the working directory in the container
  WORKDIR /app
  Copy package.json and package-lock.json (if available)
  COPY package*.json ./
  Install dependencies
  RUN npm install
  Copy the rest of your application's source code
  COPY . .
  If you have a build step, uncomment the following line:
  RUN npm run build
  Expose the port on which your app will run
  EXPOSE 3000
  Define the command to run your app
  CMD ["npm", "start"]
      

  
  


• This configuration uses a lightweight Node.js image, installs dependencies, copies your code, and starts your application. The app listens on port 3000 which is exposed from the container.

 

Configuring Package.json for Docker

 

• Open your package.json file (or create one if it doesn’t exist) in the root of your project.
• Add or update the scripts section to include commands for building and running your Docker image. This is useful because Bolt.new AI projects do not expose a terminal; you will simply include these commands as part of your project documentation for later use:

• 
  {
    "name": "bolt-ai-docker",
    "version": "1.0.0",
    "main": "server.js",
    "scripts": {
      "build": "tsc",
      "start": "node dist/server.js",
      "docker:build": "docker build -t bolt-ai-docker .",
      "docker:run": "docker run -p 3000:3000 bolt-ai-docker"
    },
    "dependencies": {
      "express": "^4.18.2"
    },
    "devDependencies": {
      "@types/express": "^4.17.15",
      "typescript": "^4.9.5"
    }
  }
      

• Adjust the build and start commands if your project uses a different structure or build process.

 

Running Your Application in Docker

 

• Since Bolt.new AI does not offer a terminal, you must use the provided code modifications and configuration files as your Docker integration setup.
• When you have access to a terminal (for example, on your local machine), run the command specified in the docker:build script to build your Docker image:

• 
  npm run docker:build
      

• After building the image, run the container with the mapped port using the command from the docker:run script:

• 
  npm run docker:run
      

• This setup ensures your app listens on 0.0.0.0:3000 inside the container, and Docker maps it to your host’s port 3000.