Docker Compose & Multi-Container Applications

Requirements

1. Create a docker-compose.yml bringing up at least three services (e.g., web, db, cache)
2. Use environment files (.env) for service configuration
3. Define volumes for persistent storage (e.g., database data)
4. Set up networks to isolate frontend and backend services
5. Add depends_on, healthcheck, and restart policies
6. Test bringing up/down the stack with docker-compose up/down

Stretch goals

• Use Compose override files for staging vs. production
• Implement profiles to enable optional services
• Simulate a network partition and observe behavior

Deliverables

• docker-compose.yml, .env, and any override files in repo
• Documentation on service relationships and data persistence
• A demo script to launch the stack

Links

• Docker Compose Overview
• Compose File Reference
• Compose Networking

Learning Objectives

• Define services and dependencies in docker-compose.yml
• Implement environment-specific configurations
• Manage persistent data with volumes
• Isolate networks between services
• Use health checks and restart policies

You’ll gain hands-on experience orchestrating multi-container applications locally.