Docker Compose Generator

What is Docker Compose Generator?

Build a docker-compose.yml for multi-container setups without fighting YAML indentation. Add services from presets (PostgreSQL, MySQL, Redis, MongoDB, Nginx, your own app) or start empty, then fill in image or build context, ports, environment variables, volumes, dependencies, restart policy and command. The YAML updates as you type and errors are explained.

How to use Docker Compose Generator

1. Edit the example services or use Add a service to insert a preset.
2. For each service set the Image (or Build context), Ports, Environment, Volumes, Depends on and Restart policy.
3. Fix any problems listed in red (invalid names, ports, variables or dependencies).
4. Download docker-compose.yml and run docker compose up -d.

Example

Service app (build ., port 3000, NODE_ENV=production, depends on db) + PostgreSQL preset

services:
  app:
    build: .
    restart: unless-stopped
    ports:
      - "3000:3000"
    environment:
      NODE_ENV: production
    depends_on:
      - db
  db:
    image: postgres:16-alpine
    restart: unless-stopped
    ports:
      - "5432:5432"
    environment:
      POSTGRES_USER: app
      POSTGRES_PASSWORD: change-me
      POSTGRES_DB: app
    volumes:
      - pgdata:/var/lib/postgresql/data
volumes:
  pgdata: {}

When to use Docker Compose Generator

Use it to set up local development stacks, demos and simple single-host deployments. For production you will usually add health checks, resource limits, secrets and networks by hand, or use an orchestrator such as Kubernetes. Replace the example passwords in presets before using them anywhere.

How Docker Compose Generator works

The form is converted into an object following the current Compose Specification (no obsolete version: key) and serialized to YAML with js-yaml. Port mappings are quoted, because unquoted values like 22:22 can be read as base-60 numbers by YAML 1.1 parsers. Environment lines KEY=value become a mapping, and any volume whose source is a name rather than a path (e.g. pgdata:/var/lib/postgresql/data) is declared automatically under the top-level volumes: key. Service names, port formats, KEY=value syntax and depends_on targets are validated.

Common Use Cases

• ✓ Running an app with PostgreSQL and Redis locally
• ✓ Sharing a reproducible dev environment with a team
• ✓ Creating a compose file for a self-hosted tool
• ✓ Learning Compose syntax by example

FAQs

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