Docker Compose

Docker Compose is a tool for defining and running multi-container [[Docker]] applications. With Compose, you use a [[YAML]] file to configure your application's services, networks, and volumes, and then create and start all the services from your configuration with a single command. It's a part of Docker, which is a platform for developing, shipping, and running applications inside lightweight containers.

Docker Compose allows you to define your multi-container Docker application's configuration in a docker-compose.yml file, which makes the configuration easy to read, write, and maintain. It simplifies the setup of development environments where an application might require multiple services to run, such as a web server, a database, and a cache. All these services can be defined and run with a single command.

In the docker-compose.yml file, you define a set of services, networks, and volumes. A service is a container based on a Docker image, and it defines how that container should run (what ports to use, what volumes to mount, etc.).

Docker Compose provides a command-line interface (CLI) for managing the lifecycle of your application. Common commands include docker-compose up to start the application, docker-compose down to stop it, and docker-compose restart to restart all services.

Compose sets up a network for your containers to communicate with each other and with the host machine. You can manage persistent data for your containers by defining volumes in the docker-compose.yml file.

Compose supports the use of environment variables for configuring services, which is particularly useful for not exposing sensitive data. Compose works well with other Docker tools and services, providing a smooth workflow for developing, testing, and deploying applications.