Start a Docker Compose stack
Low risk
What do risk levels mean?
- Read-only
- Inspects state without changing anything.
- Low risk
- Reversible with a routine follow-up command.
- Medium risk
- Changes state; undo path documented.
- Destructive
- Deletes or overwrites; confirmation required.
Starts all services defined in the compose file of the current directory in the background, creating containers, networks, and volumes as needed.
dockercomposeupservices
Commands
List the services the compose file defines before starting them
docker compose config --servicesCreate and start all services in the background
docker compose up --detachShow the status of every service in the stack
docker compose psVerification
docker compose psEach service shows a running (Up) state; services with healthchecks show healthy once they pass.
Undo
Stop and remove the stack's containers and networks; named volumes are kept
docker compose downPitfalls
- Run from the directory containing compose.yaml / docker-compose.yml, or pass --file explicitly.
- up reuses existing containers when configuration is unchanged; add --build to rebuild images from local Dockerfiles first.
- Port conflicts with already-running containers make individual services fail to start; check docker compose logs for the failing service.