Start services in foreground
Builds, creates, and starts all services defined in the Compose project.
bashANYdockercomposeuplifecycle
bash
docker compose upNotes
Use this for the default local startup flow.
Docker Compose Cheat Sheet
Commands for starting, stopping, inspecting, and operating Docker Compose projects.
Export
Copy the compact sheet, download it, or print it.
Download
`D` dense toggle · `C` copy all
Project Lifecycle
Start, stop, rebuild, and inspect a Compose project.
bash
docker compose up -dNotes
Useful for long-running local environments.
bash
docker compose up --buildNotes
Useful when Dockerfiles or build contexts changed.
bash
docker compose downNotes
Leaves named volumes unless you add `-v`.
Stop and remove volumes
Removes containers, networks, and named volumes.
bashANYdockercomposedownvolumes
bash
docker compose down -vNotes
Use carefully because stateful data will be deleted.
Start existing containers
Starts previously created services without recreating them.
bashANYdockercomposestart
bash
docker compose startNotes
Useful after `docker compose stop`.
bash
docker compose stopNotes
Containers remain available for `start` later.
bash
docker compose restartNotes
Useful after config changes external to the image.
bash
docker compose pauseNotes
Suspends processes without stopping the containers.
bash
docker compose unpauseNotes
Pair with `pause` during testing.
Build and Images
Build, pull, and push service images.
bash
docker compose buildNotes
Great when working from source.
bash
docker compose build --no-cacheNotes
Useful when debugging build issues.
bash
docker compose build webNotes
Speeds up iteration on a single app container.
bash
docker compose pullNotes
Useful before a deployment or refresh.
Pull while skipping buildable services
Pulls only pure image-based services.
bashANYdockercomposepull
bash
docker compose pull --ignore-buildableNotes
Handy in mixed build/image projects.
bash
docker compose pushNotes
Useful in CI after a successful build.
bash
docker compose imagesNotes
Useful for audit and cleanup work.
Logs, Exec, and Shell Access
Inspect output and run commands inside services.
bash
docker compose logsNotes
Use service names to narrow the output.
bash
docker compose logs -fNotes
Helpful during startup and debugging.
bash
docker compose logs --tail=100 webNotes
Keeps output focused during triage.
Open shell in running service
Executes a shell inside an already-running service container.
bashANYdockercomposeexecshell
bash
docker compose exec web shNotes
Use `bash` when the image includes it.
Open bash in running service
Runs Bash inside the running service container.
bashANYdockercomposeexecbash
bash
docker compose exec web bashNotes
Common in Debian/Ubuntu based app images.
Run one-off command
Starts a fresh container for a one-off task and removes it after exit.
bashANYdockercomposerunone-off
bash
docker compose run --rm web python manage.py migrateNotes
Useful for migrations, tests, or generators.
Show running processes
Displays processes running inside service containers.
bashANYdockercomposetop
bash
docker compose topNotes
Helpful when debugging process models and daemons.
bash
docker compose psNotes
Use `-a` to include stopped containers.
Stream project events
Streams container lifecycle events for the project.
bashANYdockercomposeevents
bash
docker compose eventsNotes
Useful for debugging restarts and recreate loops.
Inspection and Cleanup
Inspect config, dependencies, and remove stale resources.
Render normalized config
Merges files, interpolates variables, and prints the final Compose model.
bashANYdockercomposeconfig
bash
docker compose configNotes
Use this to verify what Compose will actually run.
bash
docker compose config --servicesNotes
Useful in scripts and CI checks.
List named volumes
Shows named volumes declared in the effective config.
bashANYdockercomposeconfigvolumes
bash
docker compose config --volumesNotes
Helps audit stateful resources.
bash
docker compose config --profilesNotes
Helpful when organizing optional services.
bash
docker compose lsNotes
Useful when you run many stacks locally.
bash
docker compose rmNotes
Useful after experimenting with one-off runs.
bash
docker compose killNotes
Useful when graceful stop is hanging.
Wait for services to stop
Waits until selected services stop and returns their exit codes.
bashANYdockercomposewait
bash
docker compose waitNotes
Useful in automation and test pipelines.
More in Docker Compose
Docker Compose Dev, Debugging, CI, and Production Patterns
Developer workflows, troubleshooting commands, CI flows, and small-host production Compose patterns.
Docker Compose Networking, Volumes, and Runtime Controls
Compose patterns for ports, networks, volumes, secrets, configs, and runtime controls.
Docker Compose Files and YAML Patterns
compose.yaml examples for services, variables, profiles, overrides, and dependency-aware startup.