How to Install Docker Compose on Ubuntu 20.04: A Practical Guide

Docker simplifies application management within containers. Are you looking to streamline multi-container deployments on Ubuntu 20.04? This guide offers a step-by-step approach to install Docker Compose and manage your containerized applications effectively.

Why Use Docker Compose?

Docker Compose orchestrates multi-container applications, making it easy to manage complex environments. Instead of managing individual containers, Docker Compose uses YAML files to define and manage services, networks, and volumes. By using it, you can:

• Simplify application deployment.
• Manage multi-container environments easily.
• Define all application services in a single file.

Prerequisites for Installing Docker Compose

Before installing Docker Compose, ensure you have the following:

• An Ubuntu 20.04 server or local machine.
• A non-root user with sudo privileges.
• Docker installed (Steps 1 & 2 of the Docker on Ubuntu 20.04 tutorial).

With these prerequisites in place, you are ready to proceed with the installation.

Step 1: Installing Docker Compose on Ubuntu

This section focuses on installing the most updated stable version of Docker Compose from its official GitHub repository.

Download the Latest Docker Compose Version

First, visit the Docker Compose releases page to find the latest version. Then, use the following curl command, replacing 1.29.2 with the version you found:

sudo curl -L "https://github.com/docker/compose/releases/download/1.29.2/docker-compose-$(uname -s)-$(uname -m)" -o /usr/local/bin/docker-compose

Set Executable Permissions

Grant execute permissions to the downloaded binary:

sudo chmod +x /usr/local/bin/docker-compose

Verify the Installation using the version command

Check the installation using below, you should see the version details to confirm correct set up.

docker-compose --version

Step 2: Setting Up a docker-compose.yml File

A docker-compose.yml file defines your application's services, networks, and volumes. This example creates a simple web server environment using the official Nginx image.

Create a Project Directory

mkdir ~/compose-demo
cd ~/compose-demo
mkdir app

Create an index.html File

Create a basic HTML file to be served by Nginx:

nano app/index.html

Add the following HTML content:

 
 
  Docker Compose Demo 
 
 

  This is a Docker Compose Demo Page. 
  This content is being served by an Nginx container. 

 

Define the docker-compose.yml File

Create a docker-compose.yml file:

nano docker-compose.yml

And add the following configuration:

version: '3.7'
services:
  web:
    image: nginx:alpine
    ports:
      - "8000:80"
    volumes:
      - ./app:/usr/share/nginx/html

In this file:

• version: Specifies the Docker Compose file format version.
• services: Defines the services that make up your application.
• web: Service uses the nginx:alpine image.
• ports: Maps port 8000 on the host to port 80 on the container.
• volumes: Mounts the app directory on the host to /usr/share/nginx/html in the container.

Step 3: Running Docker Compose

Start your application using docker-compose, which will pull images, create networks, and start containers based on your configuration.

docker-compose up -d

This command runs the environment in detached mode (-d), meaning it runs in the background.

Verify the Application

Check if the container is running:

docker-compose ps

Visit localhost:8000 or your_server_ip:8000 in your browser to see the demo page. Any changes to index.html will be reflected immediately due to the shared volume.

Step 4: Mastering Docker Compose Commands

Effectively manage your applications using these commands:

• docker-compose logs: View container logs for debugging.
• docker-compose pause: Temporarily pause services.
• docker-compose unpause: Resume paused services.
• docker-compose stop: Stop running services.
• docker-compose down: Stop and remove containers, networks, and volumes.
• docker image rm nginx:alpine: Remove the base image from your system.

Conclusion

You’ve successfully installed Docker Compose on Ubuntu 20.04 and deployed a simple web application using Nginx. With Docker Compose, managing multi-container applications becomes more manageable and efficient. You can further explore more complex setups, such as WordPress or Node.js applications, using Docker Compose.