Table of Contents

• Docker Compose v2
• About update and backward compatibility
• Where to get Docker Compose
  • Windows and macOS
  • Linux
• Quick Start
• Contributing

Docker Compose v2

Docker Compose is a tool for running multi-container applications on Docker defined using the Compose file format. A Compose file is used to define how one or more containers that make up your application are configured. Once you have a Compose file, you can create and start your application with a single command: docker compose up.

About update and backward compatibility

Docker Compose V2 is a major version bump release of Docker Compose. It has been completely rewritten from scratch in Golang (V1 was in Python). The installation instructions for Compose V2 differ from V1. V2 is not a standalone binary anymore, and installation scripts will have to be adjusted. Some commands are different.

For a smooth transition from legacy docker-compose 1.xx, please consider installing compose-switch to translate docker-compose ... commands into Compose V2's docker compose .... . Also check V2's --compatibility flag.

Where to get Docker Compose

Windows and macOS

Docker Compose is included in Docker Desktop for Windows and macOS.

Linux

You can download Docker Compose binaries from the release page on this repository.

Rename the relevant binary for your OS to docker-compose and copy it to $HOME/.docker/cli-plugins

Or copy it into one of these folders to install it system-wide:

• /usr/local/lib/docker/cli-plugins OR /usr/local/libexec/docker/cli-plugins
• /usr/lib/docker/cli-plugins OR /usr/libexec/docker/cli-plugins

(might require making the downloaded file executable with chmod +x)

Quick Start

Using Docker Compose is a three-step process:

1. Define your app's environment with a Dockerfile so it can be reproduced anywhere.
2. Define the services that make up your app in docker-compose.yml so they can be run together in an isolated environment.
3. Lastly, run docker compose up and Compose will start and run your entire app.

A Compose file looks like this:

services:
  web:
    build: .
    ports:
      - "5000:5000"
    volumes:
      - .:/code
  redis:
    image: redis

Contributing

Want to help develop Docker Compose? Check out our contributing documentation.

If you find an issue, please report it on the issue tracker.