Docker Compose for Real Projects

Real apps are several containers at once - web, API, database, cache. Compose declares the whole stack in one file and brings it up with a single command.

1. Why One Container Isn't Enough Real apps are a stack of cooperating containers - web, API, database, cache. Running them by hand is a juggling act; Compose declares the whole stack in one file you bring up with one command.
2. The compose file A guided tour of docker-compose.yml - services, image vs build, ports, environment, depends_on, and named volumes - then bringing the stack up, watching its logs, and tearing it down.
3. Networking, Volumes & Dev Workflow How services reach each other by name on a Compose network, how named volumes keep your database, how bind-mounts give live-reload in dev - and the two traps: depends_on waits for start not readiness, and dev compose isn't prod compose.