Docker Compose Helper
Inspect a docker-compose.yml — services, depends_on graph, healthchecks, published ports, volumes, networks, environment interpolation, and security findings — or switch to Generate and build a ready-to-run compose file (app + Postgres / MySQL / Mongo + Redis / worker / proxy) from a guided form, with a matching .env.example. Runs in your browser; nothing is uploaded and it never talks to a Docker daemon.
Auto-runs as you type / change the form. Ctrl+Enter to re-run.
How to use the Docker Compose Helper
Generate ready-to-run compose.yaml for common dev stacks (web app + Postgres / MySQL / Redis / Mongo, worker, proxy), audit an existing Compose file for service dependencies, ports, volumes, healthchecks, and secret-handling, and produce docker compose command snippets. Includes .env.example generation and a sanitized Compose preview. Runs locally in your browser; nothing is uploaded and the tool never talks to a Docker daemon.
What it does
- Generate compose.yaml templates: web app + DB + cache + worker + reverse proxy.
- Inspect an existing Compose file: services,
depends_ongraph, healthchecks, exposed ports, volumes, networks. - Security audit: published DB ports, host docker.sock mounts, plain secrets in
environment, missing healthchecks, root user. - Environment / Secrets: diff interpolation variables against your
.env, generate a sanitized.env.example. - Move secrets from
environmentinto Composesecrets:blocks. - Generates
docker composecommand snippets (up,logs,exec,build,config).
When to use it
- Bootstrap a starter
compose.yamlfor a new project. - Audit an inherited Compose file for security and operational issues.
- Move secrets from env into Compose secrets without breaking the app.
- Compare the env vars your Compose uses against your
.env. - Generate a
.env.examplesafe to commit to the repo. - Get the right
docker composecommand snippet for the task at hand.
How to use it
- Generate: pick your stack (web app + database, optional worker / proxy), set names, ports, and credentials placeholders.
- Copy the produced
compose.yamland.env.example. - Inspect: paste an existing Compose file to see its service graph, healthchecks, ports, and any security findings.
- Environment / Secrets: diff Compose interpolation against your
.env; generate the sanitized example. - Hand off to the YAML Validator, Dockerfile Linter, ENV Converter, or Kubernetes Manifest Helper.
Tips & pitfalls
- Avoid publishing database ports to the host unless you specifically need to connect from your machine.
- Use named volumes for databases — bind mounts can corrupt or lose data on container restart.
- Mounting
/var/run/docker.sockgives the container powerful host access — rarely needed in app containers. - Compose secrets are mounted as files — some images support
*_FILEenv vars, others need app-level changes. - Set
healthcheckanddepends_on: condition: service_healthyfor ordered startup. - The tool generates files and snippets only — it never executes
docker composeor talks to a Docker daemon.
FAQ
- How do I generate a Docker Compose file? Pick a stack template, fill in ports / image / db credentials, copy the result.
- How do I audit an existing compose.yaml? Paste it into Inspect — you get the service graph and a list of issues with severity.
- How do I move secrets to Compose secrets? Identify the env vars in the Environment / Secrets tab; the tool emits the
secrets:block and the per-service mount. - Does this run my Compose file? No — it never connects to Docker. It only produces YAML and command snippets for you to run yourself.
- Is the file uploaded? No. Generation and inspection run entirely in your browser.
- Can it produce Kubernetes manifests? Pair with the Kubernetes Manifest Helper to translate services into Deployments and Services.
Runs locally in your browser. No uploads. The helper produces YAML and command snippets only — it never talks to a Docker daemon.