Docker Compose is a tool for defining and running multi-container Docker applications using a single YAML configuration file. With one command you can start all services, networks, and volumes for your entire application stack. This guide installs Docker Compose on Ubuntu 26.04 LTS.

Tested and valid on:

  • Ubuntu 26.04 LTS

Prerequisites

  • Ubuntu 26.04 LTS with Docker Engine installed
  • A user with sudo privileges

Step 1 – Install Docker Compose Plugin

The Docker Compose v2 plugin is included with the Docker installation:

sudo apt install docker-compose-plugin -y
docker compose version

Step 2 – Install Standalone Docker Compose (optional)

sudo curl -L "https://github.com/docker/compose/releases/latest/download/docker-compose-$(uname -s)-$(uname -m)" 
  -o /usr/local/bin/docker-compose
sudo chmod +x /usr/local/bin/docker-compose
docker-compose --version

Step 3 – Create a Sample docker-compose.yml

mkdir ~/myapp && cd ~/myapp
cat > docker-compose.yml << 'EOF'
services:
  web:
    image: nginx:alpine
    ports:
      - "8080:80"
    volumes:
      - ./html:/usr/share/nginx/html
  db:
    image: mysql:9
    environment:
      MYSQL_ROOT_PASSWORD: rootpass
      MYSQL_DATABASE: appdb
EOF
mkdir html && echo '
Hello Docker Compose!
' > html/index.html

Step 4 – Start the Application

docker compose up -d
docker compose ps

Step 5 – View Logs

docker compose logs -f web

Step 6 – Stop and Remove

docker compose down
docker compose down -v  # also removes volumes

Step 7 – Common Commands

docker compose up -d        # start all services detached
docker compose stop         # stop without removing
docker compose restart web  # restart specific service
docker compose exec db bash # open shell in container
docker compose pull         # pull updated images

Conclusion

Docker Compose is installed and working on Ubuntu 26.04 LTS. Define complex multi-container applications in a single docker-compose.yml and manage them with simple compose commands.