Fix frontend-to-backend networking in Docker

Frontend in Docker container can't reach localhost:8000 on the host.
Implemented Docker networking fix using host.docker.internal.

Changes:
  • Updated frontend/src/App.tsx to use host.docker.internal:8000 in production
    - Automatically switches between localhost:8000 (dev) and host.docker.internal:8000 (Docker)
  • Added frontend/.env.example with API configuration
  • Updated docker-compose.yml frontend environment:
    - Added VITE_API_URL=http://host.docker.internal:8000
    - Added comments explaining the networking approach
  • Enhanced DOCKER_QUICK_START.md troubleshooting section
    - Added detailed networking explanation
    - Instructions for verifying host.docker.internal works
    - Linux-specific workarounds

How it works:
  • Docker Desktop automatically maps host.docker.internal to localhost on the host machine
  • Frontend (running in Docker) uses host.docker.internal:8000
  • API & Consumer (running on host) listen on localhost:8000
  • Both reference the same service, just from different network contexts

Workflow remains:
  Terminal 1: docker compose up (infra + frontend in Docker)
  Terminal 2: uvicorn api.main:app --reload (your host machine)
  Terminal 3: cd consumer && python pipeline.py (your host machine)

Frontend automatically reaches API at http://host.docker.internal:8000
without any manual configuration needed.

Co-authored-by: Copilot <[email protected]>

docker-compose.yml

@@ -67,7 +67,11 @@ services:
       retries: 5
     environment:
       - NODE_ENV=production
+      - VITE_API_URL=http://host.docker.internal:8000
     restart: unless-stopped
+    # NOTE: Frontend connects to API running on host machine via host.docker.internal
+    # This allows docker compose up to start infrastructure + frontend,
+    # while API and Consumer run locally on the same machine
 
 volumes:
   redis_data: