TOPIC CONTAINERS
Docker Compose define and run multi-container apps with a single YAML file
IN 10 SECONDS
Docker Compose lets you define multiple containers — web app, database, cache, queue — in a `compose.yaml` file. One `docker compose up` starts them all on a shared network with configured volumes, ports, and environment variables. Perfect for local dev and CI environments; not designed for production orchestration.
GOTCHA Compose is for single-host orchestration only. It doesn't scale, doesn't self-heal, and doesn't handle rolling updates. Use it for dev and CI — never production. K8s or Nomad for real workloads.
HOW COMPOSE ORCHESTRATES SERVICES
01 You define `compose.yaml` with services (web, db, redis), each specifying image, ports, env, and volumes.
02 Docker Compose parses the file and creates a default network for all services to communicate.
03 Service dependencies Compose respects `depends_on` — it starts your database before your web app.
04 Health checks optional — Compose waits for a service to be healthy before starting dependents.
05 Teardown `docker compose down` stops all containers and removes the network, volumes optionally.
POKE IT YOURSELF
docker compose up -d — start all services in detached mode
docker compose logs -f web — tail logs from the web service
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