Docker compose

The configuration of Docker compose is stored in a YAML file, usually called docker-compose.yml. The following is a very simple example that defines a single Docker container, cleverly named "one" which is based on the Ubuntu 20.04 image. Normally in order for a Docker container to keep running you need to execute some command in them that will keep running. We can achieve the same by configuring the stdin_open and the tty parameters. (They are the same as providing -it on the command line of docker.)

examples/interactive-shell/docker-compose.yml
version: '3.7'
services:
 one:
   image: ubuntu:23.04
   stdin_open: true
   tty: true
In order to launch the Docker containers we need to cd in the directory where we have the docker-compose.yml file and then type in docker-compose up. This will download the image if necessary and launch the Docker container. 

cd examples/interactive-shell
$ docker-compose up

In another terminal, but in the same directory you can run one-off commands on the running container: 


$ docker exec interactive-shell_one_1 hostname

You can also attach to it: 


$ docker attach interactive-shell_one_1

However, when you exit, it will shut down the container.