store: Fix: Docker healthcheck - use node -e when container lacks wget/curl

graph/fixes/fix-docker-healthcheck-use-node-e-when-container-lacks-wgetc-e9abb3.md

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+---
+id: e9abb352-ae92-4714-9b07-5ee6568953d5
+type: fix
+title: "Fix: Docker healthcheck - use node -e when container lacks wget/curl"
+tags: [docker, healthcheck, troubleshooting, homelab, nodejs, fix]
+importance: 0.6
+confidence: 0.8
+created: "2026-02-20T17:09:36.080059+00:00"
+updated: "2026-02-20T17:09:36.080059+00:00"
+---
+
+# Fix: Docker Healthcheck Binary Missing in Container Image
+
+## Problem
+A Docker container (Termix, `ghcr.io/lukegus/termix:latest`) was perpetually unhealthy. The `HEALTHCHECK` directive used `wget`, but the image had neither `wget` nor `curl` installed.
+
+## Diagnosis
+When a container is stuck in `unhealthy` state, verify the binary used in the `HEALTHCHECK` actually exists in the image.
+
+## Fix
+Replace the `wget`-based healthcheck with one using the app runtime (Node.js in this case):
+
+```yaml
+healthcheck:
+  test: ["CMD", "node", "-e", "require('http').get('http://localhost:PORT', r => process.exit(r.statusCode === 200 ? 0 : 1)).on('error', () => process.exit(1))"]
+  interval: 30s
+  timeout: 10s
+  retries: 3
+```
+
+Replace `PORT` with the actual port the app listens on.
+
+## Important
+- `docker compose restart` does NOT pick up compose file changes — must run `docker compose up -d` to recreate the container.
+
+## General Pattern
+For Node.js apps without curl/wget, use the Node.js HTTP module directly in the healthcheck. Adapts to any language runtime available in the image (python3 -c, etc.).