Discover essential Docker Compose tips: customize Dockerfile, manage environment variables, build images, ensure container availability, and more

Eddie Jaoude

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Docker Compose looks for a Dockerfile named Dockerfile in the root directory of the context. If you're working with environment variables, use the env_file option instead of hardcoding them directly in the Compose file. If the container stops for any reason, docker Compose will automatically restart it.

6 Must-Know Docker Compose Tips

it’s just a basic description. I was expecting more advanced information. BTW beware of “restart: always” option, as it always restart the container, regardless of the exit code. Not good for dev stack because auto-restart can make it more difficult to troubleshoot issues. For example, you might miss important log messages before the container restarts. If a service is crashing due to some misconfiguration or errors in the code, a restart policy set to always will repeatedly try to start the service, which may not be desirable during development. And If your service depends on other services to be available first (like a database), Docker Compose doesn’t wait for one service to be “ready” before starting another. Therefore, your restarted service may keep failing if it starts before its dependencies are ready.
Alternatives:
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restart: on-failure: This will restart your container only when it exits with a non-zero status. This can be handy for services that should be restarted if they crash but left alone otherwise.
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restart: unless-stopped: This will keep restarting the container unless you explicitly stop it. This provides a balance between keeping the service up and allowing for manual intervention.
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restart: no: This is often suitable for development environments where you’re frequently changing code, rebuilding images, and have more granular control over the container lifecycle.
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