Docker Compose File Examples
Explore curated Docker Compose examples for common stacks and services. Edit and validate them directly in your browser — no Docker installation required.
Docker Compose Validator
Validate and format Docker Compose files. Checks YAML syntax, service structure, network and volume references, dependency chains, and common misconfigurations.
About Docker Compose Validation
Docker Compose is a tool for defining and running multi-container applications. Compose files use YAML to configure your app's services, networks, and volumes.
What we check:
- Valid YAML syntax with precise error locations
- Top-level structure (services, networks, volumes, configs, secrets)
- Service keys against the Compose specification
- Every service has an
imageorbuilddirective - Network and volume references resolve to declared resources
depends_onreferences exist and don't self-reference- Port format validity and restart policy values
- Unused declared volumes and networks
Format: Re-serializes your Compose file with consistent indentation and optionally sorted keys, making it easier to review and compare in version control.
Everything runs in your browser — no data is sent over the network.
Why use Docker Compose examples?
Starting from a working example is faster and less error-prone than writing a docker-compose.yml from scratch. Examples demonstrate best practices like health checks, restart policies, named volumes, and proper networking. They also show correct YAML indentation and key ordering, which are common sources of frustration for newcomers.
Common use cases
Developers use Compose examples to spin up local development environments with databases and caches, prototype microservice architectures, create reproducible CI/CD test environments, and onboard new team members with a single docker compose up command. The examples cover stacks like NGINX + Node.js, PostgreSQL + pgAdmin, Redis, Elasticsearch, and WordPress.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Docker Compose version should I use?
Docker Compose V2 (the docker compose plugin) is the current standard. The version key in docker-compose.yml is now optional and ignored by Compose V2. If you're starting a new project, omit the version field entirely.
Can I validate a Docker Compose file without running it?
Yes. You can use the docker compose config command locally, or paste your YAML into DevBolt's Docker Compose Validator to check syntax and structure without needing Docker installed.