What is Docker Compose?
Docker is known for its use of OS-level virtualization and for the container system that employs to make creating, deploying and running applications much easier for developers.
While learning the basics of Docker, you may have come across the creation of simple applications that work autonomously, not depending, for example, on external data sources or on certain services. In practice, such applications are rare. Real projects usually involve a whole set of collaborative applications.
Docker Compose technology, if we describe it in a simplified way, allows, with the help of one command, to start many services.
So, Docker Compose is software tool used for defining and running multi-container Docker applications.
Difference Between Docker and Docker Compose
Docker is used to manage the individual containers (services) that make up an application.
Docker Compose is used to manage multiple containers that are part of an application at the same time. This tool offers the same features as Docker, but allows you to work with more complex applications.
Docker Compose Use Cases
- Automated testing environments.
An important part of any Deployment or Integration process is the automated test suite.
Compose supports automated testing, which is an essential part of CI/CD and provides a convenient and easy way to create and destroy isolated testing environments for your testing. Developers can define and configure the environment needed for running automated end-to-end testing in just a few commands using the appropriate Docker Compose file.
- Single host deployments.
In Docker Compose, containers are designed to run on a single host as they have traditionally been focused on development and testing workflows.
- Development Environments.
Compose is a fast and simple way of starting projects as it can quickly spin up new isolated development environments. The software documents and configures all the application’s service dependencies (including databases, caches, web service APIs, etc.). It allows you to create and start one or multiple containers for each dependency using a single command.
- Release notes.
You can see a detailed list of changes for past and current releases of Docker Compose, refer to the Changelog.
What features make Docker Compose so effective?
- Multiple isolated environments on a single host
- Preserve volume data when containers are created
- Only recreate containers that have changed
- Variables and moving a composition between environments
We have covered the basics of working with Docker Compose technology, the knowledge of which will allow you to use this technology and, if you desire, begin to study it in more depth.
Do you use Docker Compose in your projects?
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