Docker Compose

Starts a local Docker Compose stack from den, next to the cloud services. A service of type: docker is a Compose file: connecting it runs docker compose up -d for all of its services, or the ones you list. Use it for the local databases and queues your work needs, so one dashboard starts both.

Nothing here is tunnelled: there is no AWS login, no credential and no local port of den’s own. The ports are whatever the Compose file publishes.

Configuration

services:
  # The whole stack
  - name: "local stack"
    type: docker
    docker:
      compose_file: ./docker-compose.yml

  # Two of its services, with local settings
  - name: "local db and cache"
    type: docker
    docker:
      compose_file: ./docker-compose.yml
      services: [postgres, redis]
      env_file: ./.env.local

A docker entry takes none of the shared tunnel keys (env, local_port, transport, …); the configuration reference lists the keys.

Prerequisites

• Docker with the Compose plugin, and the Docker daemon running (den doctor --for docker).
• The Compose file and any env file it uses.

Usage

1. Launch den, open Connect, select the stack and press c. den runs docker compose -f FILE up -d and shows its output in the service’s log.
2. The service is connected once docker compose up -d returns. y copies docker compose ps, to see what runs.
3. The Create Env panel lists only the docker services of den.yaml and brings them up the same way.
4. Without a den.yaml entry: den create-env -f FILE starts a Compose file and opens the dashboard on it. The file defaults to docker-compose.yml; compose.yml next to this page is a one-service example.

Limitations

• Disconnecting only marks the service stopped: the containers keep running. Stop them with docker compose down.
• There is no health check: the service counts as connected as soon as docker compose up -d returns, whether or not the containers stay up.
• No terminal tabs and no credential: the stack is yours to connect to.

Troubleshooting

• Cannot connect to the Docker daemon: start Docker Desktop, Colima or the daemon.
• no such service: a name in services is not in the Compose file.
• docker: 'compose' is not a docker command: Docker is too old or lacks the Compose plugin. den doctor --for docker checks Docker and prints how to install it; on Linux, Docker’s own install script includes the plugin.