To be honest, I do not really get the benefit of Docker for NodeBB. I understand the principle, but when I tried it (Panamax), it felt horrible and I have concluded that I will never use Docker again.

In the time you are looking for a solution, you could already have setup a way more powerful backend (not available through docker) in less than 1h.

@julian how can it be important to vote for 2 cockroaches?

The only thing such a vote would be is a waste of time.

Edit:
Trump won. Seems like my post was right.

@electromaster232 looks like a general setup issue to me.
Consider redoing it after my guide:
https://community.nodebb.org/topic/11032/nodebb-full-stack-setup/

@hawsey pull the source code.