according to their documentation nodebb only supports mongodb or redis.
nodebb is easy enough without docker, just need nodejs and the db, and use the cli ./nodebb start ./nodebb stop etc.
i use a oneshot systemd service to start it at boot:
[Unit]
Description=mpp.community nodebb
After=mongod.service
[Service]
User=mppc
Group=mppc
WorkingDirectory=/srv/mppc/forum/
Type=oneshot
ExecStart=/srv/mppc/forum/nodebb start
RemainAfterExit=yes
ExecStop=/srv/mppc/forum/nodebb stop
[Install]
WantedBy=multi-user.target
