Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Docker Compose VS Docker Swarm

Compare Docker Compose VS Docker Swarm and see what are their differences

Docker Compose logo Docker Compose

Define and run multi-container applications with Docker

Docker Swarm logo Docker Swarm

Native clustering for Docker. Turn a pool of Docker hosts into a single, virtual host.
  • Docker Compose Landing page
    Landing page //
    2024-05-23
  • Docker Swarm Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-11-01

Docker Compose features and specs

  • Simplified Multi-Container Deployment
    Docker Compose allows users to define and manage multi-container applications with a single YAML file, making it easy to deploy complex applications.
  • Infrastructure as Code
    Compose files are version-controlled, enabling teams to use best practices in infrastructure as code, repeatable builds, and consistent development environments.
  • Portability
    Applications defined with Docker Compose can be shared easily and deployed in any environment that supports Docker, enhancing development and operational consistency.
  • Ease of Use
    With simple CLI commands, developers can start, stop, and manage containers, reducing the complexity of container orchestration.
  • Environment Variables
    Docker Compose supports the use of environment variables, making it easier to configure applications and manage different environments (e.g., development, testing, production).
  • Isolation
    Compose creates isolated environments for different applications, preventing conflicts and allowing for more straightforward dependency management.

Possible disadvantages of Docker Compose

  • Not Suitable for Large-Scale Production
    Docker Compose is not designed for managing large-scale, production-grade applications. For more robust orchestration and scaling, systems like Kubernetes are typically used.
  • Single Host Limitation
    Docker Compose is intended for single-host deployments, which limits its use in distributed and multi-host environments.
  • Networking Complexity
    Networking between containers can become complex, especially as the number of services grows, which may require additional configuration and management.
  • Learning Curve
    While Docker Compose simplifies many tasks, there is still a learning curve associated with understanding Docker concepts, Compose syntax, and best practices.
  • Limited Built-in Monitoring
    Docker Compose has limited built-in monitoring and logging capabilities, necessitating the use of additional tools for comprehensive monitoring.
  • Resource Management
    Docker Compose does not provide advanced resource management features, which can lead to suboptimal resource usage and potential inefficiencies.

Docker Swarm features and specs

  • Simplicity
    Docker Swarm is easy to set up and use, especially for those already familiar with Docker. It integrates seamlessly into the Docker ecosystem, providing a straightforward solution for container orchestration without the need for additional tools.
  • Native Docker Integration
    Swarm is built into Docker, meaning that Docker users do not need to install or configure another orchestration tool. This provides a consistent experience from development to production.
  • Declarative Service Model
    Swarm allows users to define the desired state of their services, and the system works to maintain that state. This includes scaling services up or down, and handling load balancing.
  • Easy Scaling
    Docker Swarm makes it easy to scale applications horizontally by simply changing the number of replicas of a service. The platform manages the distribution of these replicas across the available nodes.
  • Built-in Load Balancing
    Swarm includes built-in load balancing, distributing incoming client requests to running containers based on task states and node availability.

Possible disadvantages of Docker Swarm

  • Limited Ecosystem
    Compared to Kubernetes, Docker Swarm has a more limited ecosystem of plugins, extensions, and third-party integrations. This can make it less flexible for complex or custom setups.
  • Less Feature-Rich
    Although sufficient for many use cases, Swarm lacks some advanced features that other orchestrators like Kubernetes offer, such as custom scheduling policies, complex networking configurations, and a broader range of storage options.
  • Community and Support
    The Docker Swarm community is smaller and less active compared to Kubernetes. This affects the available support, community-contributed tools, and overall development pace.
  • Scaling Limits
    While Docker Swarm can handle small to medium-sized clusters efficiently, it may not perform as well as Kubernetes in very large-scale deployments, particularly in terms of resource management and fault tolerance.
  • Future Uncertainty
    With Docker's increasing focus on Kubernetes, the long-term future of Docker Swarm is uncertain. This raises concerns about investing in a technology that might not be as actively developed or supported in the future.

Analysis of Docker Compose

Overall verdict

  • Yes, Docker Compose is a highly regarded tool in the containerization ecosystem. It provides a straightforward approach to orchestrating containers by creating a consistent local development environment that mirrors production settings.

Why this product is good

  • Docker Compose is considered good because it simplifies the management and deployment of multi-container Docker applications. It allows developers to define and run multi-container environments using a simple YAML file, increasing productivity and facilitating version control. This is especially useful for development, testing, and staging environments.

Recommended for

  • Developers looking to manage multi-container Docker applications effortlessly.
  • Teams needing to ensure consistent development and testing environments.
  • Projects that benefit from automated container orchestration without complex setups.
  • Organizations that use Docker containers in their workflow and need a simple tool to orchestrate them.

Analysis of Docker Swarm

Overall verdict

  • Docker Swarm is a good choice for small to medium-sized deployments where ease of setup and tight integration with Docker are priorities. However, for larger, more complex environments or when advanced features like custom scheduling and multi-cloud support are necessary, other orchestration tools like Kubernetes might be more appropriate.

Why this product is good

  • Docker Swarm is considered good for users who need a simple, integrated tool for managing containers across a cluster of hosts. Its main strengths include seamless integration with Docker, easy setup, and support for multi-host networking and scaling of services. Swarm is a part of Docker, and therefore it benefits from Docker's comprehensive ecosystem, tooling, and documentation. It is particularly suitable for scenarios where a lightweight and straightforward orchestration solution is desired.

Recommended for

  • Developers who are already familiar with Docker and want minimal learning curve for orchestration.
  • Small to medium-sized teams looking for easy-to-use, efficient management of containerized applications.
  • Environments where tight integration with Docker CLI and ecosystem is preferred over advanced orchestration capabilities.

Docker Compose videos

Docker Compose | Containerizing MEAN Stack Application | DevOps Tutorial | Edureka

More videos:

  • Demo - What is Docker Compose? (with demo)

Docker Swarm videos

Kubernetes vs Docker Swarm | Container Orchestration War | Kubernetes Training | Edureka

More videos:

  • Review - Roberto Fuentes โ€“ NodeJS with Docker Swarm

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Docker Compose and Docker Swarm)
Developer Tools
56 56%
44% 44
DevOps Tools
52 52%
48% 48
Cloud Computing
65 65%
35% 35
Containers As A Service
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

Share your experience with using Docker Compose and Docker Swarm. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
Log in or Post with

Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Docker Compose and Docker Swarm

Docker Compose Reviews

We have no reviews of Docker Compose yet.
Be the first one to post

Docker Swarm Reviews

Top 12 Kubernetes Alternatives to Choose From in 2023
With Docker Swarm, you can create and manage a cluster of Docker nodes, enabling the deployment and scaling of containerized applications across a distributed environment.
Source: humalect.com
11 Best Rancher Alternatives Multi Cluster Orchestration Platform
Next, we have Docker Swarm on our alternatives to rancher list. Docker Swarm is a lightweight container orchestration tool that lets you create, deploy and manage containerized applications. It is even one of the most popular container orchestration tools after Kubernetes.
Docker Swarm vs Kubernetes: how to choose a container orchestration tool
Docker Swarm is an open-source container orchestration platform built and maintained by Docker. Under the hood, Docker Swarm converts multiple Docker instances into a single virtual host. A Docker Swarm cluster generally contains three items:
Source: circleci.com

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Docker Compose seems to be a lot more popular than Docker Swarm. While we know about 50 links to Docker Compose, we've tracked only 3 mentions of Docker Swarm. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Docker Compose mentions (50)

  • How to prompt Gemini CLI to improve your Dockerfile
    Now that you have an "improved" Dockerfile and Docker Compose, you'll want to make sure they actually work. Ask Gemini CLI to run the Dockerfile and analyze the logs. You should also take a look at the performance yourself, to double-check what Gemini says. - Source: dev.to / 9 days ago
  • Why did I build a transparent, account-free, open-source URL shortener?
    I've always found Docker Compose to be a lifesaver for quickly setting up the services an application needs. For Trails, I used a simple docker-compose.yml file to spin up our PostgreSQL database. This keeps the setup process clean and consistent. - Source: dev.to / about 2 months ago
  • Getting Started with Snowflake Openflow on Your Local Machine
    Docker Compose Reference - Container orchestration. - Source: dev.to / about 2 months ago
  • Compiling Docker in RISC-V
    Buildkit and docker compose are fundamental for any setup, so must be setup, good thing is that are already compiled for riscv, so just need to be copied into proper dir. Note that documentation suggest a lot of possible local/global paths, /usr/libexec/docker/cli-plugins worked for me, but feel free to setup other dirs if you need. - Source: dev.to / about 2 months ago
  • Does it Make Sense to Run WordPress in Docker?
    You can also use Docker Compose to simplify the process:. - Source: dev.to / 3 months ago
View more

Docker Swarm mentions (3)

  • Ask HN: Why did K8s win against Docker Swarm?
    Docker Swarm Classic (https://github.com/docker-archive/classicswarm) is dead. Docker Swarm Mode is alive, and I know some people use it, but it's very niche compared to k8s. As someone who interacts with k8s regularly, I often feel like there is a place for a simpler k8s alternative. But looking at history I see the attempts like Swarm fail. What do you think played the decisive role in the k8s victory? Features,... - Source: Hacker News / 10 months ago
  • K8s vs Docker Swarm
    So the thing is support for Swarm was delegated to Mirantis, https://www.mirantis.com/blog/mirantis-will-continue-to-support-and-develop-docker-swarm/ since it was delegated very little was done to move forward swarm _> https://github.com/moby/swarmkit/commits/master , docker swarm itself (docker the company) is deprecated https://github.com/docker-archive/classicswarm . I think because there's no way to... Source: over 2 years ago
  • #30DaysOfAppwrite: Docker Swarm Integration
    Docker Swarm is a container orchestration tool built right into the Docker CLI which allows us to deploy our Docker services to a cluster of hosts, instead of just the one allowed with Docker Compose. This is known as Swarm Mode, not to be confused with the classic Docker Swarm that is no longer being developed as a standalone product. Docker Swarm works great with Appwrite as it builds upon the Compose... - Source: dev.to / over 4 years ago

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Docker Compose and Docker Swarm, you can also consider the following products

Kubernetes - Kubernetes is an open source orchestration system for Docker containers

Rancher - Open Source Platform for Running a Private Container Service

Helm.sh - The Kubernetes Package Manager

OpenShift - OpenShift gives you all the tools you need to develop, host and scale your apps in the public or private cloud. Get started today.

Docker - Docker is an open platform that enables developers and system administrators to create distributed applications.

Docker Machine - Machine management for a container-centric world