docker-compose-control

name	docker-compose-control
description	Start, stop, restart, inspect, and follow logs for Docker Compose-managed local stacks
metadata	{"owner":"local","version":1}

docker-compose-control

Use this skill when the task requires managing a local stack with docker compose instead of PM2, especially when services are already defined in one or more compose files and should be started, stopped, rebuilt, or inspected together.

Use This Skill When

• The user asks to start, stop, restart, rebuild, or inspect a Docker Compose stack
• A repo already has docker-compose.yml, compose.yml, or environment-specific compose files
• The stack should be managed as containers, not as separate PM2 processes
• You need docker compose up, down, restart, ps, logs, or exec
• The user explicitly wants Docker Compose instead of PM2

Do Not Use This Skill When

• The task is about authoring a new Dockerfile or compose file from scratch
• The task is about managing one-off standalone docker run containers
• The process model is intentionally PM2-inside-container for multi-process images
• The service is managed by systemd, ansible, or a remote orchestrator instead of local compose

Core Rule

If a service stack is already defined in Docker Compose, manage it with docker compose directly rather than wrapping the same stack in PM2.

Use PM2 with Docker only when PM2 runs inside a container image to supervise multiple processes within that container.

Inputs

• Compose file path(s), for example deploy/docker-compose.dev.yml
• Optional compose project name
• Desired action: up, down, restart, ps, logs, build, exec
• Optional service names
• Optional environment overrides

Common Commands

Start / refresh a stack:

docker compose -f <compose-file> up -d
docker compose -f <compose-file> up -d --build

Stop and remove a stack:

docker compose -f <compose-file> down

Restart a service or stack:

docker compose -f <compose-file> restart
docker compose -f <compose-file> restart <service>

Inspect container state:

docker compose -f <compose-file> ps
docker compose -f <compose-file> config

Follow logs:

docker compose -f <compose-file> logs --tail=200
docker compose -f <compose-file> logs -f <service>

Run commands in a service:

docker compose -f <compose-file> exec <service> <command>
docker compose -f <compose-file> run --rm <service> <command>

Recommended Workflow

1. Identify the correct compose file for the task.
2. Ensure any required external network/volume exists if the compose file expects it.
3. Start or refresh with docker compose ... up -d --build when code or images changed.
4. Confirm health with docker compose ... ps.
5. Inspect logs with docker compose ... logs --tail=200 if behavior is unclear.
6. Use docker compose ... down only when the user wants the stack stopped/removed.

Example

Generic stack workflow:

docker network inspect my-app-network >/dev/null 2>&1 || docker network create my-app-network
docker compose -f docker-compose.yml up -d --build
docker compose -f docker-compose.yml ps

Dev stack with external networks:

docker compose -f docker-compose.dev.yml up -d
docker compose -f docker-compose.dev.yml ps

Safety Notes

• Prefer docker compose ps and logs before assuming a service is healthy
• Avoid mixing PM2 and Docker Compose for the same outer process lifecycle
• Respect external networks declared in compose files; create them first if needed
• Use --build when local code changes affect images
• Use service-specific restarts when only one service changed

Output

• Clear statement of which compose file was used
• Whether services are running and healthy
• Key logs or errors if startup failed
• Exact follow-up commands if more validation is needed