Do I need to include version in docker-compose.yml?

Docker Compose v2 follows the Compose Specification and no longer requires a version field. Many examples still use version: '3.9' for compatibility and clarity. This generator lets you include or omit it.

How do I add environment variables in Docker Compose?

Use the environment section (KEY=VALUE per line) or reference variables from a .env file. This generator supports both inline values and ${VAR} placeholders.

How do I validate my Compose file?

After generating YAML, validate it with docker compose config or use our Docker Compose Validator tool to catch common syntax mistakes and configuration issues.

Docker Compose Generator

Build a docker-compose.yml in your browser: services, ports, volumes, environment variables, depends_on, and restart policies. Copy or download the YAML — nothing is sent to a server.

Preset 0 services

Compose options

Writes a top-level name: (Compose v2) so you can avoid default folder-based project names.

Include version: '3.9'

Tip: After generating YAML, validate it with docker compose config or use the Docker Compose Validator.

Generated docker-compose.yml

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I use docker-compose or docker compose?

Use docker compose (space) — that is Docker Compose v2, built into the Docker CLI. The old docker-compose (hyphen) was v1 and is end-of-life.

How do I keep secrets out of docker-compose.yml?

Use environment variables and a .env file (not committed to Git), or use your deployment platform’s secret store. For Swarm/Kubernetes, prefer secrets/configs.

What are good default restart policies?

For most long-running services on a single server, unless-stopped is a good default. Use on-failure for batch jobs, and avoid restarting crash-looping containers without investigating logs.

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Frequently Asked Questions

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