Docker Compose: PermissionError: [Errno 13] Permission denied: '/var/lib/langflow/secret_key'

[brylie]

On a fresh Ubuntu server, I follow the instructions on the Langflow Docker deployment documentation. When running docker compose up, I get the following error in the langflow service:

PermissionError: [Errno 13] Permission denied: '/var/lib/langflow/secret_key'

To Reproduce Steps to reproduce the behavior:

1. Create an Ubuntu VPS instance
2. Git clone the repository
3. cd to the docker_example directory
4. run docker compose up
5. See error

[dosubot[bot]]

To resolve the PermissionError: [Errno 13] Permission denied: '/var/lib/langflow/secret_key' error when deploying Langflow using Docker Compose on a fresh Ubuntu server, follow these steps:

1. Check Directory Permissions: Ensure that the directory on your host machine that maps to the container's configuration directory has the correct permissions set so that the Docker container can access it.

2. Adjust Permissions: Run the following command on your host machine to adjust the permissions:

   sudo chmod -R 777 /var/lib/langflow
   

   This command will give read, write, and execute permissions to all users for the /var/lib/langflow directory and its contents.

3. Verify Docker Compose Configuration: Ensure that your docker-compose.yml file correctly maps the volume for Langflow. Here is an example configuration:

   version: "3.8"
   
   services:
     langflow:
       image: langflowai/langflow:1.0-alpha
       ports:
         - "7860:7860"
       depends_on:
         - postgres
       environment:
         - LANGFLOW_DATABASE_URL=postgresql://langflow:langflow@postgres:5432/langflow
         - LANGFLOW_CONFIG_DIR=app/langflow
       volumes:
         - langflow-data:/app/langflow
   
     postgres:
       image: postgres:16
       environment:
         POSTGRES_USER: langflow
         POSTGRES_PASSWORD: langflow
         POSTGRES_DB: langflow
       ports:
         - "5432:5432"
       volumes:
         - langflow-postgres:/var/lib/postgresql/data
   
   volumes:
     langflow-postgres:
     langflow-data:
   

4. Restart Docker Compose: After adjusting the permissions and verifying the configuration, restart the Docker Compose services:

   docker compose down
   docker compose up
   

By setting the correct permissions and ensuring the Docker Compose configuration is correct, the Docker container should be able to access the configuration directory without encountering a PermissionError ^{[1][2][3][4][5]}.

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[blazux]

Got the same error here, I've with few older version of the docker image, same result each time.

[BrandonBordeaux]

I've worked around the permissions issue by using a Dockerfile to create and change the ownership of /var/lib/langflow, but that only lead to another startup issue (see Langflow discord https://discord.com/channels/1116803230643527710/1256237409692029013/1256237409692029013).

I see the docker-compose.yml has an updated config path /app/langflow now, but that leads to the same permissions issue.

[projetosfsi]

ADD in your compose:

services: langflow: image: langflowai/langflow user: root

[brylie]

I've opened a pull request as a proof-of-concept. I'm on my mobile and coding with GitHub Copilot so can't currently test the PR. Also, I'm not sure whether the PR is the ideal solution, so opened it mainly to continue the discussion 🙂

[carlosrcoelho]

Hi @brylie ,

Do you need any assistance with this case? If not, please let us know if this issue can be closed.

[mexicanhatman]

ADD in your compose:

services: langflow: image: langflowai/langflow user: root

This worked for me. Thanks!