{"data":{"slug":"docker-compose","name":"Docker Compose","tagline":"Apache-2.0 multi-container apps from one YAML file","category":"devops","categoryName":"DevOps","url":"https://docs.docker.com/compose/","github":"https://github.com/docker/compose","pricing":"open-source","hook":"Docker Compose describes a multi-container application — services, networks, volumes — in one compose.yaml and brings the whole stack up or down with a single command.","whatsGood":"Apache-2.0 (docker/compose), release v5.6.0. The standard way to run local development stacks and small single-host deployments; works with Docker Engine on Linux and with Podman through its Compose support. The compose file format is an open specification. ★~38k.","theCatch":"Compose itself is Apache-2.0, but Docker Desktop — the usual way to get it on macOS and Windows — has its own licence terms that require a paid subscription for larger companies; Docker Engine on Linux avoids that. Single-host only: for multi-node orchestration you need Kubernetes or similar.","verdict":"The default for multi-container dev stacks — check Docker Desktop licensing if your company is large.","addedAt":"2026-10-13","featured":false,"domain":"AI Agents","subSpecialty":"Containers","subcategory":"Containers","tags":["cli","self-host","permissive","containers","active"],"capabilities":["cli","containers"],"surfaces":["CLI","Self-host"],"ecosystem":["Go"],"licenseModel":"Apache-2.0","githubStars":38399,"starsPerWeek":57,"access":"free","archived":false,"repo":{"createdAt":"2013-12-09","pushedAt":"2026-10-16","license":"Apache-2.0","archived":false,"checkedAt":"2026-10-19"}},"related":[{"slug":"github-actions","name":"GitHub Actions","tagline":"CI/CD that lives where your code does"},{"slug":"docker","name":"Docker","tagline":"Container runtime that changed deployment"},{"slug":"kubernetes","name":"Kubernetes","tagline":"Container orchestration at scale"},{"slug":"pulumi","name":"Pulumi","tagline":"Infrastructure as code in real languages"},{"slug":"fly-io","name":"Fly.io","tagline":"Deploy apps to VMs close to your users"}],"links":{"self":"/api/gems/docker-compose","html":"/gems/docker-compose","markdown":"/gems/docker-compose.md","category":"/api/gems?category=devops","categoryPage":"/stacks/devops"}}