Docker Compose
Docker Compose is a tool for defining and running multi-container Docker applications. It uses a YAML file to configure application services, networks, and volumes, allowing developers to manage complex setups with a single command. It simplifies the orchestration of interconnected containers, making it ideal for local development, testing, and staging environments.
Developers should use Docker Compose when building applications that require multiple services, such as a web app with a database, cache, and message queue, to streamline setup and ensure consistency across environments. It is particularly useful for local development, as it eliminates the need to manually start each container and manage dependencies, enabling faster iteration and easier collaboration. For production deployments, it can serve as a foundation for more advanced orchestration tools like Docker Swarm or Kubernetes.