dockerDeveloper tools
compose
Docker’s official CLI tool for defining and running multi-container applications from a Compose file.
- Backend
- Full stack
- DevOps
- Automation
- CLI
- Windows
- macOS
- Linux
- Runs locally
- Docker supported
- Popularity
- 38.3k Stars
- GitHub stars
- Recent activity
- 9/30/2026
- Updated in the last 30 days
- License
- APACHE-2.0
- Permissive
Why it matters
We look beyond stars: what problem it solves, whether it creates real utility, and what makes its approach worth noticing.
Problem
Solves the complexity of configuring and starting multi-container applications with single commands.
Practical value
Manages the lifecycle of multiple containers through a single configuration file and simple commands.
Innovation / differentiation
Established a standard declarative configuration format for multi-container applications.
Leverage potential
Serves as a core component of the Docker ecosystem, significantly improving containerized delivery efficiency.
Why now
Emerging alongside container technology adoption to become an industry standard.
Community activity
In the last 90 days there were 58 new issues and 318 pull requests; the bounded issue/PR samples include 44 issue authors and 21 PR contributors, with at least 4 releases.
Maintainer responsiveness
The 58-issue window sample had a 83% close rate, and the 100-pull-request sample had a 66% merge rate. Maintainer-response observations covered 36% of that issue sample, with a 0% response rate and median first response of not enough data.
Key highlights
- Define multiple container services and dependencies in a Compose file
- Create and start the application with
docker compose up - Configure ports, volumes, networks, and service settings
Quick start
How it is installed, how hard it is, and where to start.
Where it runs
Runs locally
Difficulty
Easy — follow the steps
- 01Install Docker Desktop, or install Docker Engine plus the Compose CLI plugin on Linux.
- 02Create
compose.yamlin the project directory and define the services, ports, volumes, and networks that should run together. - 03Run
docker compose upto start the stack; add-dwhen you want it to run in the background.
Best for
- Developers who want to try it on their machine
- People who prefer Docker deploys
More about it
Docker Compose describes a multi-container application in compose.yaml, including services, ports, volumes, networks, and how the containers are started together. Once the file is defined, docker compose up creates and starts the application as one unit.
Compose ships with Docker Desktop on Windows and macOS and is available as a Docker CLI plugin on Linux. It is useful for local development, test environments, and services that need several containers to start from one reproducible configuration.
Compose targets Docker multi-container workflows. It is not Kubernetes, and legacy Docker Swarm support should not be treated as equivalent to the current Compose Specification.
Sources
Each field shows its status and source — expand to review.
12 · Expand
Sources
Each field shows its status and source — expand to review.
capability tags
Verifiedautomation
Source: manual_curated · Manually curated from the verified project README; no AI draft. · 8/17/2026
Latest release
Verifiedv5.5.1
Source: GitHub API · latest_release=v5.5.1 · 10/1/2026
License
VerifiedApache-2.0
Source: GitHub API · license.spdx_id=Apache-2.0 · 10/1/2026
needs api key
VerifiedNo
Source: manual_curated · Manually curated from the verified project README; no AI draft. · 8/17/2026
One-liner
Verified{"en":"Docker’s official CLI tool for defining and running multi-container applications from a Compose file.","zh":"用一份 Compose 配置定义并启动多容器 Docker 应用的官方命令行工具。"}
Source: manual_curated · Manually curated from the verified project README; no AI draft. · 8/17/2026
Platforms
Verifiedwindows, macos, linux
Source: manual_curated · Manually curated from the verified project README; no AI draft. · 8/17/2026
Category hint
Inferred from materialsdeveloper-tools
Source: Project README · hint=developer-tools · 8/15/2026
product forms
Verifiedcli
Source: manual_curated · Manually curated from the verified project README; no AI draft. · 8/17/2026
role tags
Verifiedbackend, fullstack, devops
Source: manual_curated · Manually curated from the verified project README; no AI draft. · 8/17/2026
supports docker
VerifiedYes
Source: Repository file · dockerfile=true; compose=true · 10/1/2026
supports local
VerifiedYes
Source: manual_curated · Manually curated from the verified project README; no AI draft. · 8/17/2026
supports self host
VerifiedNo
Source: manual_curated · Manually curated from the verified project README; no AI draft. · 8/17/2026
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