Docker Compose - Multi Container Setup

Docker Recap — Environment Replication and Container Management

so now we understand how docker works and how it solves the pain point of environment replication.

Quick Recap

• you need a VM or any machine where docker is installed — either docker CLI or docker desktop
• once docker is set up, you can start managing the lifecycle of your containers

Example Scenario — React Application Containerization

for example, in a company developers are working on a react application and they ask you:

“hey omkar, can you containerize or dockerize this application?”

Steps involved:

• create a dockerfile
• set up a call with the developers to understand the application requirements
• choose the base image
• run commands to install all the dependencies required for the application
• copy the source code
• expose the required ports
• define the entrypoint

Step 2 — Build and Run the Application

• create the docker image using:

  docker build -t <image-name> .

• after building the image:

  • push it to docker hub
  • run the docker container from that image

Multi-Container Scenario — Docker Compose

now consider another scenario — what if you have an e-commerce application that requires a multi-container setup?

• docker compose is used to manage multi-container applications
• an e-commerce application usually follows a multi-service or microservice architecture
• when working with multiple containers, we need to manage the execution order and dependencies between services

Example:

• a payment or catalog service will not run properly without a database
• docker compose helps define all services in one place
• it manages how containers start and interact with each other

Docker Recap — Environment Replication and Container Management

so now we understand how docker works and how it solves the pain point of environment replication.

Quick Recap

• you need a VM or any machine where docker is installed — either docker CLI or docker desktop
• once docker is set up, you can start managing the lifecycle of your containers

Example Scenario — React Application Containerization

for example, in a company developers are working on a react application and they ask you:

“Hey omkar, can you containerize or dockerize this application?”

Steps involved:

• create a dockerfile
• set up a call with the developers to understand the application requirements
• choose the base image
• run commands to install all the dependencies required for the application
• copy the source code
• expose the required ports
• define the entrypoint

Step 2 — Build and Run the Application

• create the docker image using:

  docker build -t <image-name> .

• after building the image:

  • push it to docker hub
  • run the docker container from that image

Multi-Container Scenario — Docker Compose

now consider another scenario — what if you have an e-commerce application that requires a multi-container setup?

• docker compose is used to manage multi-container applications
• an e-commerce application usually follows a multi-service or microservice architecture
• when working with multiple containers, we need to manage the execution order and dependencies between services

Example:

• a payment or catalog service will not run properly without a database
• docker compose helps define all services in one place
• it manages how containers start and interact with each other

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✍️ Author: Omkar Sharma

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