Docker Compose Generator

Build docker-compose.yml files visually. Add services, set environment variables, volumes, and networks. Use templates to get started fast.

Services
Version
docker-compose.yml
Add services above to generate your docker-compose.yml.

How to Use the Docker Compose Generator

  1. Choose a mode — start from scratch with Custom, pick a preset with Web Stack or Database, or load a full template.
  2. Add services — each service card lets you set the image, ports, volumes, environment variables, and dependencies.
  3. Copy or download — save as docker-compose.yml and run docker compose up -d.

Understanding Docker Compose

Docker Compose is the standard tool for running multi-container applications. Rather than managing each container manually with docker run flags, you describe your entire stack in a single YAML file. A typical web application needs at least two containers: one for the application server and one for the database. Compose handles the networking between them automatically — each service is reachable by its service name on the internal network.

Services, Images, and Builds

Each service in a Compose file runs from either a pre-built Docker image (e.g., postgres:15 from Docker Hub) or a locally built image defined by a Dockerfile. The build: . directive tells Compose to build from the Dockerfile in the current directory. Images from Docker Hub follow the format name:tag — always pin to a specific tag (like node:20-alpine) rather than latest to ensure reproducible builds.

Volumes and Persistent Data

Containers are ephemeral — when removed, all data inside is lost. Docker volumes solve this. Named volumes (declared in the top-level volumes: key and referenced as - db-data:/var/lib/postgresql/data) persist beyond the container lifecycle. Bind mounts (e.g., - ./src:/app/src) mount a host directory into the container, which is invaluable during development for live code reloading. In production, prefer named volumes for databases to avoid permission issues.

Environment Variables and Secrets

Environment variables configure services at runtime. You can set them inline (POSTGRES_PASSWORD: secret), reference a .env file with env_file: .env, or use Docker Secrets for production deployments. Never commit passwords in your docker-compose.yml — use a .env file that is listed in .gitignore. The environment: key supports ${VARIABLE_NAME} interpolation from the shell environment or .env file.

Networks and Service Discovery

Compose creates a default bridge network for all services in a file. Services communicate using their service names as hostnames — your Node.js app connects to PostgreSQL at postgres:5432, not localhost:5432. Custom networks let you isolate services: a frontend network between Nginx and the app, and a backend network between the app and the database, so Nginx cannot directly reach the database. Use the Dockerfile Generator to create optimized images for your services.

Frequently Asked Questions

Docker Compose is a tool for defining and running multi-container Docker applications. You describe your services, networks, and volumes in a YAML file, then start everything with a single 'docker compose up' command.
docker-compose (with a hyphen) is the original standalone Python tool. docker compose is the modern Go-based version bundled with Docker Desktop and Docker Engine 20.10+. Both use the same YAML format. The modern 'docker compose' subcommand is now preferred.
A Docker volume is persistent storage managed by Docker, outside the container filesystem. Volumes survive container removal. Named volumes are managed by Docker; bind mounts map host directories into containers.
depends_on controls startup order — it starts listed services before the current one. It only waits for the container to start, not for the service inside to be ready. For database readiness, use health checks or a wait-for script.
No. This generator runs entirely in your browser. No data is sent to any server, logged, or stored anywhere outside your device.