Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Docker Compose VS Lazydocker

Compare Docker Compose VS Lazydocker and see what are their differences

Docker Compose logo Docker Compose

Define and run multi-container applications with Docker

Lazydocker logo Lazydocker

A simple terminal UI for docker and docker-compose, written in Go with the gocui library.
  • Docker Compose Landing page
    Landing page //
    2024-05-23
  • Lazydocker Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-07-26

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.

Lazydocker features and specs

  • User-Friendly Interface
    Lazydocker provides a simple and intuitive TUI (text user interface) that simplifies the process of managing Docker containers, images, volumes, and networks, making it accessible even for those less familiar with Docker CLI.
  • Comprehensive Management
    It offers a comprehensive view of all docker resources, allowing for easy monitoring and managing of containers, images, volumes, and networks from a single interface.
  • Quick Navigation
    Users can swiftly navigate between different docker objects and perform actions like stopping, starting, or removing containers without remembering complex commands.
  • Log Inspection
    Lazydocker allows users to easily inspect logs directly from the interface, helping quickly diagnose and address issues with containers.
  • Ease of Installation
    Lazydocker is easy to install and set up, providing straightforward instructions to get started quickly without complicated configurations.

Possible disadvantages of Lazydocker

  • Limited Functionality
    While Lazydocker covers basic functions well, it might lack some advanced features available in native Docker CLI or other comprehensive Docker management tools.
  • TUI Limitations
    As a Terminal User Interface application, it might not be as visually appealing or as detailed as GUI-based tools, potentially impacting the user experience for some users.
  • Dependency on Terminal
    Since Lazydocker is a TUI application, it requires a terminal to operate, which might not be ideal for users who prefer standalone GUI applications.
  • Not Ideal for Large Scale
    Lazydocker might not be the best tool for managing large-scale docker environments or complex multi-host setups, where more robust management and orchestration tools like Kubernetes might be more appropriate.
  • Learning Curve
    Despite its user-friendly interface, new users with no prior experience with terminal applications may take some time to get accustomed to its interface and navigation.

Docker Compose videos

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

More videos:

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

Lazydocker videos

LazyDocker is a user-riendly terminal GUI for Docker

More videos:

  • Demo - Lazydocker. Terminal UI for Docker and Docker-Compose. Demo.

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Docker Compose and Lazydocker)
Developer Tools
73 73%
27% 27
DevOps Tools
60 60%
40% 40
Cloud Computing
75 75%
25% 25
Container Tools
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Docker Compose should be more popular than Lazydocker. It has been mentiond 43 times since March 2021. 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 (43)

  • 5 Developer Pain Points Solved by Internal Developer Platforms
    Docker Compose for local development environments. - Source: dev.to / 3 days ago
  • Connecting RDBs and Search Engines — Chapter 1
    This removes all container volumes and resets everything to its initial state. See the official documentation for more details. - Source: dev.to / 8 days ago
  • Docker Compose and Devcontainers for Microservices Development
    This tutorial assumes familiarity with Docker, Docker Compose, Devcontainers and that your services have Dockerfile implemented. - Source: dev.to / 22 days ago
  • Building a bot to talk to my cats
    I talk a lot about using containers for local development. The container that I always used was some running LLM container that I pulled from the Docker Hub official AI image registry. I initially started dev work by just running npm start to get my app running and test connecting to a container, and then I got more savvy with my approach by leveraging Docker Compose. Docker Compose allowed me to automatically... - Source: dev.to / about 2 months ago
  • How to Keep Docker Secrets Secure
    Docker includes a secrets management solution, but it doesn't work with standalone containers. You can supply secrets to your containers when you're using either Docker Compose or Docker Swarm. There's no alternative for containers created manually with a plain docker run command. - Source: dev.to / about 2 months ago
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Lazydocker mentions (28)

  • Docker Management Is Evolving These 8 Tools Made My Life Easier
    Lazydocker GitHub — TUI to manage containers without rage. - Source: dev.to / 23 days ago
  • LazyJournal: A Terminal User Interface for Logs
    LazyJournal is a terminal user interface (TUI) written in Go, designed for easy analysis of system and application logs. It is inspired by tools like lazydocker and lazygit, providing interactive access to search, view, and filter logs from various sources in the local system. - Source: dev.to / about 1 month ago
  • Switching Fully to Neovim
    Additionally, I integrate several CLI tools into my work flow, such as lazygit for streamlined Git operations, yazi as a terminal file manager, tmux for session management, and lazydocker for handling Docker containers efficiently. - Source: dev.to / 3 months ago
  • 5 Awesome Docker Tools To Make Your Life Easier
    Lazy Docker is a terminal UI for Docker and Docker Compose that makes managing containers a breeze. Instead of having to remember and type out long Docker commands, you get an interactive interface where everything is just a keypress away. - Source: dev.to / 6 months ago
  • Ask HN: Interesting TUIs (text user interfaces), maybe forgotten ones?
    Lazydocker [0] is by the same author as lazygit. I'm thoroughly familiar with the Docker CLI, but sometimes it's just easier to use a GUI or TUI for some things. In particular, I use lazydocker for cleaning up volumes or images that may no longer be needed. [0] https://github.com/jesseduffield/lazydocker. - Source: Hacker News / about 1 year ago
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What are some alternatives?

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

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

lazygit - Simple terminal UI for git commands.

Docker Swarm - Native clustering for Docker. Turn a pool of Docker hosts into a single, virtual host.

Portainer - Simple management UI for Docker

Rancher - Open Source Platform for Running a Private Container Service

Helm.sh - The Kubernetes Package Manager