# Building Discourse image from discourse/discourse - how to install plugins

**URL:** <https://meta.discourse.org/t/building-discourse-image-from-discourse-discourse-how-to-install-plugins/394969>\
**Category:** Self-hosting\
**Tags:** docker, install, hosting\
**Created:** [February 2, 2026, 6:10pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/building-discourse-image-from-discourse-discourse-how-to-install-plugins/394969 "2026-02-02T18:10:55Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Showing post:** 6

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**Author:** ![pfaffman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/meta/user_avatar/meta.discourse.org/pfaffman/32/120154_2.png) [@pfaffman](https://meta.discourse.org/u/pfaffman)\
**Post date:** [February 3, 2026, 8:03pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/building-discourse-image-from-discourse-discourse-how-to-install-plugins/394969/6 "2026-02-03T20:03:35Z")

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> [@stevejr](#):
>
> I did manage to get the container to build ok without the db:migrate hook - not sure if its going to work as I have not tested it yet - its on the todo list 🙂

That’s a good start! You’ll still need to migrate your database when you launch a new Discourse.

> [@stevejr](#):
>
> For the `base_image` value - I assume this changes when a new docker image is released so I think I will just take whatever is on main branch as that is what gets called in the launcher script.

There’s no reason to get a new base image if you’re not upgrading Discourse. So you don’t really care if there are new base images.

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