Add Docker setup for frontend, backend & MongoDB

[rishabh0510rishabh]

Dockerize MERN Stack Environment

Description

This PR introduces a fully containerized development environment using Docker Compose, replacing the manual setup of Node.js and MongoDB. It separates the frontend and backend into distinct services to simulate a production-like architecture (Nginx for static files, Node.js for API).

Changes

• Backend: Created server/Dockerfile to containerize the Node.js/Express application.
• Frontend: Created client/Dockerfile and client/nginx.conf to serve static assets via Nginx.
  • Feature Parity: Added security headers (CSP, X-Frame-Options) to Nginx to match existing Helmet configuration.
• Orchestration: Added docker-compose.yml to streamline the startup of Frontend, Backend, and MongoDB.
• Config: Added .dockerignore and a default .env (derived from .env.example).

Verification

The following verification steps were performed via static analysis (due to local Docker environment constraints):

1. Frontend Routing: Verified nginx.conf handles static files and proxies /api and /socket.io requests to the backend.
2. Security: Replicated key security headers from server.js (Helmet) into nginx.conf to ensure no security regression.
3. File Integrity: Scanned frontend code for external file references; confirmed all assets are within public/.

How to Run

1. Ensure Docker Desktop is running.
2. Run: docker-compose up --build
3. Access:
   • Frontend: http://localhost:3000
   • API: http://localhost:3000/api
   • Database: mongodb://localhost:27017

Checklist

• Dockerfiles created
• Docker Compose configured
• Networking (Frontend -> Backend -> DB) setup
• Security headers preserved

Label: ECWoC26

Related issue: #577

[github-actions]

🎉 Thanks for the PR, @rishabh0510rishabh!

We really appreciate you taking the time to contribute to ExpenseFlow! 💙

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• Your code follows the project's coding standards
• All file changes are accurate and intentional
• You've tested your changes locally
• Any review comments have been addressed

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Project	Deployment	Actions	Updated (UTC)
expenseflow	Ready	Preview, Comment	Feb 11, 2026 0:41am