Docker Compose Cheat Sheet

docker compose up

# Builds, creates, and starts all services defined in the Compose project.

docker compose up -d

# Run the full stack in detached mode.

docker compose up --build

# Rebuild images before starting containers.

docker compose down

# Stops containers and removes project networks.

docker compose down -v

# Removes containers, networks, and named volumes.

docker compose start

# Starts previously created services without recreating them.

docker compose stop

# Gracefully stops running containers in the project.

docker compose restart

# Restarts one or more service containers.

docker compose pause

# Pauses running containers in the project.

docker compose unpause

# Resumes paused containers.

docker compose build

# Builds images for services with a `build` section.

docker compose build --no-cache

# Forces a clean rebuild without cached layers.

docker compose build web

# Builds only the selected service.

docker compose pull

# Downloads images for services that use `image:`.

docker compose pull --ignore-buildable

# Pulls only pure image-based services.

docker compose push

# Pushes service images to their configured registries.

docker compose images

# Shows images used by the current project.

docker compose logs

# Prints aggregated logs for the project.

docker compose logs -f

# Streams live logs from services.

docker compose logs --tail=100 web

# Shows only recent log lines for a service.

docker compose exec web sh

# Executes a shell inside an already-running service container.

docker compose exec web bash

# Runs Bash inside the running service container.

docker compose run --rm web python manage.py migrate

# Starts a fresh container for a one-off task and removes it after exit.

docker compose top

# Displays processes running inside service containers.

docker compose ps

# Shows containers and status for the project.

docker compose events

# Streams container lifecycle events for the project.

docker compose config

# Merges files, interpolates variables, and prints the final Compose model.

docker compose config --services

# Prints all services in the effective config.

docker compose config --volumes

# Shows named volumes declared in the effective config.

docker compose config --profiles

# Shows all profiles used in the project.

docker compose ls

# Lists active and recent Compose projects on the host.

docker compose rm

# Removes stopped service containers.

docker compose kill

# Immediately stops containers with a signal.

docker compose wait

# Waits until selected services stop and returns their exit codes.