Docker Compose Best Practices

This guide covers essential best practices for using Docker Compose in production environments.

Project Structure

your-project/
├── docker-compose.yml
├── .env
├── .env.example
├── services/
│   ├── app/
│   │   └── Dockerfile
│   └── nginx/
│       └── nginx.conf
└── docker/
    └── scripts/
        └── healthcheck.sh

Security Best Practices

1. Environment Variables

   • Never commit .env files
   • Provide .env.example with dummy values
   • Use secrets management in production

2. Network Security

   • Create separate networks for different service groups
   • Limit exposed ports
   • Use internal networks when possible

3. Container Security

   • Run containers as non-root
   • Use specific versions instead of latest
   • Implement health checks
   • Regular security updates

Performance Optimization

1. Resource Management

   • Set memory limits
   • Configure CPU shares
   • Monitor resource usage

2. Volume Management

   • Use named volumes for persistence
   • Regular volume backups
   • Clean unused volumes

Deployment Guidelines

1. Version Control

   • Version your compose files
   • Document changes
   • Use staging environments

2. Monitoring

   • Implement logging
   • Set up monitoring
   • Configure alerts

3. Scaling

   • Design for horizontal scaling
   • Use replicas when needed
   • Implement load balancing