Web Tools DocGuides

How to use Docker Compose Builder

Get the best out of Docker Compose Builder: every option explained, a worked example, and what to check when the output is not what you expected.

Updated July 31, 2026

What it does

Interactively click parameters to generate standard docker-compose.yml configuration setups. It runs entirely in your browser — your input never leaves your device.

Options

Every setting this tool exposes, straight from the code that validates it.

OptionTypeDefaultWhat it does
serviceslist of one of: web, db, redis, node["web","db"]Services to include in the compose file. Defaults to ["web","db"].
nginxPorttext80:80Defaults to 80:80.
pgDbtextappDefaults to app.
pgUsertextadminDefaults to admin.
pgPasstextsecret_passwordDefaults to secret_password.
nodePorttext3000:3000Defaults to 3000:3000.
redisPorttext6379:6379Defaults to 6379:6379.

Worked example

Run these settings on the tool page:

  • services: ["web","db"]
  • nginxPort: 80:80
  • pgDb: app
  • pgUser: admin
  • pgPass: secret_password
  • nodePort: 3000:3000
  • redisPort: 6379:6379

You get:

version: "3.8"

services:
  nginx:
    image: nginx:alpine
    ports:
      - "80:80"
      - "443:443"
    volumes:
      - ./nginx.conf:/etc/nginx/nginx.conf:ro
    restart: always

  postgres:
    image: postgres:15-alpine
    environment:
      POSTGRES_DB: app
      POSTGRES_USER: admin
      POSTGRES_PASSWORD: secret_password
    ports:
      - "5432:5432"
    volumes:
      - pgdata:/var/lib/postgresql/data
    restart: unless-stopped

volumes:
  pgdata:

Getting the result you want

Most of the control here is in the options above. If the output is not what you expected, the setting to check first is services and nginxPort — those change the shape of the output rather than the input it accepts.

Troubleshooting

  • It is slow on very large input. Everything runs in your browser, so speed depends on your device. Very large inputs are best split up, or run through the API where the work happens on our servers.

Automating it

The same logic is available as a REST endpoint, so you can run it from a script, a CI job or your own app.

Bash
curl "https://api.toolsxpo.com/v1/docker-compose-builder" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $TOOLSXPO_KEY"

It costs 1 credit per successful call. See the full endpoint reference, or try it in the playground.

Tools covered here

Docker Compose Builder

DevOps & Config

devops

Related