Understanding Docker Compose

Docker Compose lets you define and run multi-container applications with a single YAML file.

Why Compose

Instead of remembering multiple docker run commands, you write a compose.yml that declares services, networks, and volumes. One docker compose up starts everything.

Typical Stack

services:
  app:
    build: .
    ports:
      - "3000:3000"
  db:
    image: postgres:16
    environment:
      POSTGRES_DB: myapp

It is the simplest on-ramp to containerized development.